Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 5 January (HL13131), when they expect to be in a position to share more information on the planned review of childcare provision.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Childcare Review is currently in the early stages of cross government discussions to consider how the early education and childcare alongside family support works for families and children. We will also be working with stakeholders throughout the year to gather insights and build our evidence base. We aim to conclude the Review later this year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 16 September 2025 (UIN HL10060), what plans they have to amend the International Education Strategy; and what the anticipated timeline for the publication of a revised strategy is.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government’s International Education Strategy (IES) was launched on 20 January 2026.

The strategy backs UK providers at all levels to expand overseas, strengthening global partnerships and giving millions more students access to a world-class UK education on their doorstep, all whilst boosting growth at home. It sets a clear ambition to grow the value of education exports to £40 billion a year by 2030.

We want to increase the UK’s international standing through education and make the UK the global partner of choice at every stage of learning. The IES is now co-owned between the Department for Education, the Department for Business and Trade and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office.

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 19 January (HL Deb col 5), what steps they expect public and private bodies to take to review their policies in line with the For Women Scotland Supreme Court judgement before the publication of the updated Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations; and what assessment they have made of potential (1) legal costs, and (2) inconsistences in legal advice, arising from the review of policies before the publication of that code of practice.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We have always been clear that we support the For Women Scotland ruling, and the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission - as the independent regulator - has submitted a draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations to Ministers, and we are working as quickly as we can to review it with the care it deserves. This will provide further guidance to duty bearers on how they should comply with the Equality Act 2010 following the Supreme Court ruling.

In the meantime, we expect duty bearers to implement the ruling and seek specialist legal advice where necessary.

It is for duty bearers to determine the most suitable procedures for reviewing their policies.

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 20 November 2025 (HL12179), what are the "significant safeguards" that prevent a sex offender from obtaining a gender recognition certificate.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Each application for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) is independently evaluated by the Gender Recognition Panel, underpinned by a range of required evidence. Certificates are only granted to those who meet the criteria, and not everyone who applies is granted one and circumstances are taken into account.

In order to be granted a GRC, an applicant must meet a high threshold of requirements:

• Be over 18
• Provide minimum of 2 years’ worth of evidence that they are living in their acquired gender
• Provide a medical report confirming a diagnosis of gender dysphoria from a UK doctor
• Provide a medical report countersigning the diagnosis of gender dysphoria from a psychiatrist or another doctor
• Provide a signed statutory declaration that the applicant intends to remain in their acquired gender until death.

There are safeguards in place to ensure that the relevant authorities can manage the risk posed by sex offenders. These include a requirement for registered sex offenders to notify the police of any changes to their personal information such as change of name. Furthermore, as previously stated, the police can require registered sex offenders to notify them of an intended change of name at least seven days in advance of using it. If a person with any criminal record were to obtain a GRC, this would not remove or invalidate past sentences served in their previous gender.

We continue to monitor these arrangements to ensure they safeguard the public.