Lord Blencathra

The government has set out its expectation that organisations follow the clarity the ruling provides. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has already committed to supporting organisations with its updated statutory code of practice. We will engage them as necessary as they progress this work.

For children in schools, the department are currently reviewing the draft statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance and the draft non-statutory guidance on gender questioning children, ensuring that children’s wellbeing is at the heart of both. Departmental officials are analysing consultation responses, talking to stakeholders and considering the evidence, including the Cass Review, before deciding next steps.

The department is currently reviewing the draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges on gender questioning children. The guidance will cover a range of topics relating to the requests that gender questioning children might make and the action schools and colleges should take.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has been clear that children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of this guidance and, as such, the government is looking carefully at the consultation responses, discussing with stakeholders and considering the relevant evidence, including the final report of the Cass Review, which was published post-consultation, before setting out next steps.

The government has set out its expectation that organisations follow the clarity the ruling provides. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has already committed to supporting organisations with its updated statutory code of practice. We will engage them as necessary as they progress this work.

For children in schools, the department are currently reviewing the draft statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance and the draft non-statutory guidance on gender questioning children, ensuring that children’s wellbeing is at the heart of both. Departmental officials are analysing consultation responses, talking to stakeholders and considering the evidence, including the Cass Review, before deciding next steps.

Single-sex spaces based on biological sex are protected in law and will always be protected by this government.

Under the Premises Regulations (2012) and Independent School Standards (2014) which apply to all maintained schools, academies and free schools, responsible bodies (such as school governing bodies, academy trusts or local authorities) are required to ensure that suitable toilet and changing facilities are provided. Regulation 4 states “separate toilet facilities for boys and girls aged 8 years or over must be provided except where the toilet facility is provided in a room that can be secured from the inside and that is intended for use by one pupil at a time”.

The responsibility for complying with the standards and regulations lies with the appropriate responsible body for the school.

The department is currently reviewing the draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges on gender questioning children. The guidance will cover a range of topics relating to the requests that gender questioning children might make and the action schools and colleges should take.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has been clear that children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of this guidance and, as such, the government is looking carefully at the consultation responses, discussing with stakeholders and considering the relevant evidence, including the final report of the Cass Review, which was published post-consultation, before setting out next steps.

The Circular Economy Taskforce has already begun extensive engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises, trade associations, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders to ensure that the Strategy reflects the needs and insights of all involved. The Taskforce will continue its engagement efforts with events taking place through to the summer and beyond. These engagements are crucial for developing a comprehensive Strategy and we encourage all stakeholders, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to actively participate in these engagements and share their perspectives to help shape a sustainable and prosperous future for the UK.

No formal assessment has been made of the impact of growth in the reuse and repair sector on opportunities for green skilled jobs.

Defra recognises that repair and reuse are fundamental tenets of any circular economy, and a successful circular transition will deliver increased supply chain resilience, economic productivity, and economic growth. Furthermore, capitalising on the opportunity to effect a circular transition will attract investment into new product manufacturing and processing infrastructure; create new highly skilled green jobs in circular product design and development; and help our economy retain more of the critical resources on which it depends. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy for England.

This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. To support the Government in achieving this goal, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has convened the Circular Economy Taskforce to help us develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England, which will be supported by a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the government and others will make on a sector-by-sector basis. Through this work we are considering the evidence for interventions right across the economy, with an aim to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency.

We are exploring the circularity impacts of a wide range of levers, including encouraging reuse and repair, as we develop our strategy. The outputs of the strategy aim to support economic growth, deliver green jobs, promote efficient and productive use of resources, minimise negative environmental impacts and accelerate to Net Zero.

Defra recognises that repair and reuse are fundamental tenets of any circular economy, and a successful transition aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy for England.

There have been no formal assessments made on the costs and benefits for local authorities on reuse and repair practises.

Defra recognises that repair and reuse are fundamental tenets of any circular economy, and a successful transition aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy for England.

Network Rail manages Euston Station and work to improve the passenger experience at Euston is continuing.

As part of this, a range of ideas has been proposed, including potential enhancements to the route between the station and the taxi rank. Network Rail, under a ‘single guiding mind’ approach, is working with industry partners to assess the feasibility of these proposals and the overall benefits to passengers.

The current agreement with Avanti West Coast does not contain obligations regarding the maintenance and repair of potholes.

Avanti West Coast is responsible for the day-to-day management of Penrith North Lakes Station, including the car park. Responsibility for any repairs, including repairs to potholes, lies with the station’s landlord, Network Rail. Avanti West Coast works with Network Rail to seek improvements on behalf of passengers where this is required.

The Department will ask AWC to pass on to NR the concerns about potholes in the car park.

The designated Mobility Assistance Taxi Bays remain on the western Euston Gardens site to help reduce the distance to the Mobility Assistance Reception in the station. This is approximately 120m from the Assisted Travel Lounge, similar to the previous facility, which was located underground (and which required use of a lift).

The distance to/from the Assisted Travel Lounge from the new eastern rank pick-up/drop-off points is approximately 275m and 252m respectively (via Doric passageway), though this is not the designated Mobility Assistance Taxi Bay.

The current taxi rank location is temporary to enable the construction of the HS2 station. Work is in progress to determine the new permanent location of the taxi rank.

In the interim, Transport for London are investigating potential improvements, such as changing turning priorities, having close regard to applicable road safety and highway management issues requirements.

A full Road Safety Audit, as required by Transport for London, has been carried out on both crossing points (adjacent to Eversholt Street and adjacent to Euston Road). Both crossings were enhanced as part of the taxi rank design to improve safety for pedestrians, including widening the islands and changing the signal timings.

We have always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex. Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by the Government.

The Supreme Court ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers. We expect all providers to follow the clarity this ruling provides.

The Government expects the National Health Service to deliver health services in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, having appropriate regard to protected characteristics as defined in the Act where relevant. NHS England is reviewing its ‘delivering same-sex accommodation’ guidance and will ensure it reflects the Supreme Court ruling.

The Department, like all other Government departments (OGDs) and public bodies, has a Public Sector Duty to ensure equality of opportunity, including when reporting on sex. This means the Department will continue to consider the impact of its policies and decisions on all people with protected characteristics. The Department will continue to include the biological sex of civil servants in reports about those employed by the Department and its agencies and public bodies.