Lord Blencathra

There are no plans to erect observation towers in front of the Peers’ Entrance. The design of the Abingdon Street fence components was undertaken to carefully balance security requirements and heritage considerations, whilst maintaining necessary lines of sight for the security personnel working in this area, including at nearby entrances.

Where possible, the newly installed fence along the West Front of the Palace of Westminster has been designed to be sympathetic to the existing fences while also meeting different and specific requirements. The primary driver of the difference is that the fence along the West Front has been designed to be completely removeable to accommodate the variety of access needs to Old Palace Yard. To achieve this, the fence posts had to be mounted onto the existing bi-steel barriers which make up the vehicle access (Corus) lane in Old Palace Yard. This meant it was not possible to match exactly the fence at Cromwell Green.

Since it first opened in December 2024, the accessible pod at Peers’ Entrance has been out of action (requiring Peers to be diverted to an alternative accessible entry point) for 3 whole sitting days.

The resources associated with the operation of Peers’ Entrance have been met from existing departmental budgets, with no additional cost to the House or to the taxpayer.

The House Administration will need to consider corrective action or damages under the terms of our contracts for the works. These discussions are live and I am therefore not in a position to comment on the ongoing commercial and legal matters.

I know that the House Administration acknowledges the difficulties that have emerged and are urgently working on a permanent solution to resolve the ongoing issues.

The design of the pavements and kerbs adjacent to Peers' Entrance is compliant with the accessibility requirements of UK Building Regulations. While no final decision has been taken on making changes to the current design, it will need to take into account Health and Safety, disruption, cost as well as accessibility considerations. Strategic Estates and the Director of Facilities are considering this matter.

The design of the Abingdon Street fence components was undertaken to carefully balance security requirements and heritage considerations, whilst maintaining necessary lines of sight for the security personnel working in this area, including at nearby entrances.

Officials from the House consulted the Metropolitan Police throughout the risk assessment, design and installation phases of the project. The fence has been installed with the support of the Metropolitan Police, including consultation with tactical advisers specialising in firearms, public order and Counter Terrorism.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) are updating their Code of Practice and once it has been submitted, the Government will engage with the EHRC to ensure it provides the certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the Supreme Court ruling. How court proceedings will be dealt with under the Court’s ruling will be a matter for the judiciary.

The Civil Service is committed to creating a safe and supportive work environment for all its employees and will not tolerate any form of harassment, unacceptable behaviour or abuse by any party, towards any employee.

Departments have their own policies and guidance on dealing with any such behaviour. We do not hold central data on the reasons for discipline action or dismissals following disciplinary action.

We will review and update policy wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements.

We will consult with our Government Legal Department and Kings Counsel Lawyers who specialise in employment law.

We will review and update policy wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician

The Rt Hon. the Lord Blencathra

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

1 May 2025

Dear Lord Blencathra,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16 on 16 April, whether Census 2021 data will be reviewed and published based on male and female biological sex (HL6931).

Sex is a core demographic variable of fundamental importance for a range of census users providing vital information for national and local population statistics. In Census 2021 for England and Wales, as in all previous censuses, a binary sex question asked whether respondents were female or male. Supporting online guidance for this question from 9 March 2021 onwards stated, "If you are considering how to answer, use the sex recorded on your birth certificate or Gender Recognition Certificate.” This was changed on 9 March from guidance based on legal documents, following a court order[1].

The sex variable in Census 2021 data is based on the sex recorded by the person completing the sex question[2]. We cannot retrospectively change the basis on which those data were collected and defined, nor would it be possible to accurately derive a new ‘biological sex’ variable based on responses to one or more Census 2021 questions.

The Government Statistical Service (GSS) is currently prioritising work to develop new harmonised standards for data on sex and on gender identity. This will include providing guidance for official statistics producers on definitions, survey questions, suggested presentations, and information for data users. The new standards will be developed through rigorous research and testing with a range of users. It will also include learnings from the experience of other countries and their census data collections, as well as from the independent report published by the Department of Science Innovation and Technology, the Review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender[3]. This work will also take account of any relevant guidance issued by the UK Government following the Supreme Court ruling of 16 April.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/news/statementsandletters/updatedstatementoncensus2021sexquestionguidance

[2]https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/census2021dictionary/variablesbytopic/demographyvariablescensus2021/sex

[3]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-data-statistics-and-research-on-sex-and-gender

The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity and confidence for women and single-sex services providers. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has already committed to supporting service providers with updated guidance; we will work closely with the EHRC as they develop this. All government departments should follow the clarity the ruling provides.

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister announced that government will cut administrative costs of regulation to business by 25% by the end of this Parliament. Reducing these costs on businesses will allow them to flourish and to innovate, enabling economic growth.

Our SME Strategy will be published later this year, delivering on our Growth Mission of supporting SMEs. It will feature the new Business Growth Service, simplifying
available support for SMEs on access to finance and providing training and operational efficiency advice.

DBT will also resume funding for the Help to Grow: Management training and will extend the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce supporting the digitisation efforts of a greater number of SMEs. These programmes should enable SMEs to minimise their operational and administrative compliance work.

Finally, the Government supports the introduction of e-invoicing that can significantly reduce administrative tasks, improve cash flow, boost productivity and reduce errors in tax returns.

The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.

We have always been clear that when it comes to women's sport, biology matters. Our sports bodies need to come up with policies that protect fairness and safety, whilst ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate in some form.

It is for each sport's National Governing Body to set their own policies for who can participate in domestic competitions. Our Sports Councils produce guidance to provide domestic sports bodies with the framework and support to determine the right position for their sport. Our Sports Councils are considering the implications of the Supreme Court ruling for their guidance.

A public consultation on the EHRC’s Code of Practice is now underway. We would encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation. The Government will consider the EHRC's updated draft Code of Practice once it has been submitted and engage the EHRC to ensure it provides the certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.

The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.

The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.

The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.