Puberty Blockers Trial: Consent
Debate between Baroness Merron and Baroness Chakrabarti(1 month, 2 weeks ago)
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Baroness Merron (Lab)
I appreciate that the noble Baroness has strong views—so do a number of noble Lords, as we heard on the Statement that I presented and responded to yesterday. On consent, I remind noble Lords that this is a sensitive, emotive and difficult subject, but that is why we have to be driven, as the previous Government were, by clinical evidence and experts. I recall that the noble Baroness, Lady Cass, who was rightly entrusted with an independent review, said:
“This is an area of remarkably weak evidence”.
There are always choices. We could continue with uncertainty and risks to the safety of children and young people, which I think none of us wants, or undertake a scientifically guided trial for 233 children, with all the right safeguards that I have referred to, and protect children and young people.
Baroness Chakrabarti (Lab)
My Lords, am I right that these drugs are also sometimes necessarily available to quite young people who might otherwise go into premature puberty, with serious health results? With gender dysphoria, is it not better that we look into the possible use of these drugs rather than have children and young people fixate on surgery, which is much harder to stop or reverse?
Baroness Merron (Lab)
My noble friend is quite right about the use of these drugs. It is important to note that we banned their use indefinitely for gender dysphoria outside of research settings because of the immense concerns about safety. That ban has been in place since January 2025. She is also right that the issue will not go away. The right way to protect children, as I have said, is to act on clinical evidence and opinion, and to make that decision with a cool head. That is why, despite the difficulty of such a decision, the Secretary of State has made it. He is doing the best he can to protect children in this situation.
Artificial Intelligence: Safeguarding
Debate between Baroness Merron and Baroness Chakrabarti(9 months ago)
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Baroness Merron (Lab)
The noble Lord makes a very useful suggestion, and I will certainly raise that with my ministerial colleague at DSIT. I note that companies—admittedly, they are doing this when under pressure—are looking at introducing, for example, age assurance functionalities to ensure that users get the right experience for their age. But we should not be leaving that to chance, and we should not be leaving that to the fact that this is arising following legal challenge. I certainly look forward to looking into the point the noble Lord makes.
Baroness Chakrabarti (Lab)
My Lords, is there an analogy with drugs here—a potent technology which has great and positive uses in healthcare, but that can also be abused? Therefore, it must be properly regulated. Some uses must not be allowed without prior approval; some should be banned.
Baroness Merron (Lab)
My noble friend is right that this can be used for good or for ill. Of course, there are other comparisons to draw. My noble friend has not said this, but I want to make sure we keep away from the idea that AI services are escaping regulation. Many AI chatbots are certainly in scope of the Act. I also take the view that AI can actually assist us greatly in supporting those at risk and in improving health. We seek to harness that as we move from analogue to digital, as per our 10-year plan.