Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what cross-departmental mechanism exists between the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health and Social Care to monitor and report on the implementation of the Paterson Inquiry recommendations; and how progress against those recommendations is communicated to affected patients.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As referenced in the answer to HL960, the Government accepted 13 of the 15 recommendations set out in the 2020 Paterson Inquiry Report. Of these, nine recommendations have been implemented or partially implemented, and four recommendations are in progress. While there is no timeline for full implementation, we are working with NHS England to implement the outstanding recommendations as quickly as possible.

There is currently no cross-departmental mechanism between the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health and Social Care to monitor the implementation of the Paterson Inquiry’s recommendations.

We recognise the need to strengthen oversight of recommendations. The 10-Year Health Plan committed to giving specific responsibility for reviewing, analysing, and taking forward recommendations to the National Quality Board (NQB). Work is underway to develop a central recommendations hub to support the NQB in operating a clearing house function to coordinate and prioritise recommendations, track progress of prioritised recommendations, and strengthen accountability. Plans are currently being developed for testing with rollout starting in 2027.

In December 2022, the Government published its 12-month implementation update which was available to all affected patients and stakeholders. The Government is keeping the need for further formal updates on implementation progress under review.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many of the recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by Paterson, published in February 2020, have been fully implemented; which recommendations remain outstanding; and what timeline they have set for full implementation.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As referenced in the answer to HL960, the Government accepted 13 of the 15 recommendations set out in the 2020 Paterson Inquiry Report. Of these, nine recommendations have been implemented or partially implemented, and four recommendations are in progress. While there is no timeline for full implementation, we are working with NHS England to implement the outstanding recommendations as quickly as possible.

There is currently no cross-departmental mechanism between the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health and Social Care to monitor the implementation of the Paterson Inquiry’s recommendations.

We recognise the need to strengthen oversight of recommendations. The 10-Year Health Plan committed to giving specific responsibility for reviewing, analysing, and taking forward recommendations to the National Quality Board (NQB). Work is underway to develop a central recommendations hub to support the NQB in operating a clearing house function to coordinate and prioritise recommendations, track progress of prioritised recommendations, and strengthen accountability. Plans are currently being developed for testing with rollout starting in 2027.

In December 2022, the Government published its 12-month implementation update which was available to all affected patients and stakeholders. The Government is keeping the need for further formal updates on implementation progress under review.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of compliance in (1) the NHS, and (2) the independent healthcare sector, with the Paterson Inquiry recommendation that consultants write to patients in plain language outlining their condition and treatment, with a copy of that letter sent to the patient's GP.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In October 2021, the Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) updated its guidance on standard outpatient letters to make it clear that it is best practice for most outpatient letters to be written directly to the patient. The NHS Standard Contract states that outpatient letters should be consistent with PRSB’s standards. All National Health Service and independent sector providers are regulated by the Care Quality Commission, and assessments include how services ensure that patients understand and are involved in decisions regarding their care. As per the Competition and Markets Authority’s Order, private healthcare providers must send letters to patients prior to consultations or further tests and treatments setting out the costs, reasons, and other relevant information regarding the procedure.

Our records indicate that the Paterson Inquiry Response Programme Board last met virtually in 2023. Membership included representatives from the following bodies; the Department; NHS England; the Care Quality Commission; the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges; the Competition and Markets Authority; the General Medical Council; the Independent Healthcare Providers Network; the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service; the National Consultant Information Programme; NHS Digital; NHS Providers; NHS Resolution; the Professional Standards Authority; the Royal College of Surgeons; Spire; and the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. There are no current plans to publish the boards minutes.

As referenced in the answers to HL960 and HL1431, the Government accepted 13 of the 15 recommendations set out in the 2020 Paterson Inquiry Report. Of these, nine recommendations have been implemented or partially implemented, and four recommendations are in progress. While there is no timeline for full implementation, we are working with NHS England to implement the outstanding recommendations as quickly as possible.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, for each of the 17 recommendations arising from the Paterson Inquiry report as set out in their response of 16 December 2021, (1) whether the recommendation was accepted, accepted in principle, or not accepted, (2) its current implementation status, and (3) the expected date of full implementation; and whether they intend to publish an update on implementation progress since 15 December 2022.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In October 2021, the Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) updated its guidance on standard outpatient letters to make it clear that it is best practice for most outpatient letters to be written directly to the patient. The NHS Standard Contract states that outpatient letters should be consistent with PRSB’s standards. All National Health Service and independent sector providers are regulated by the Care Quality Commission, and assessments include how services ensure that patients understand and are involved in decisions regarding their care. As per the Competition and Markets Authority’s Order, private healthcare providers must send letters to patients prior to consultations or further tests and treatments setting out the costs, reasons, and other relevant information regarding the procedure.

Our records indicate that the Paterson Inquiry Response Programme Board last met virtually in 2023. Membership included representatives from the following bodies; the Department; NHS England; the Care Quality Commission; the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges; the Competition and Markets Authority; the General Medical Council; the Independent Healthcare Providers Network; the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service; the National Consultant Information Programme; NHS Digital; NHS Providers; NHS Resolution; the Professional Standards Authority; the Royal College of Surgeons; Spire; and the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. There are no current plans to publish the boards minutes.

As referenced in the answers to HL960 and HL1431, the Government accepted 13 of the 15 recommendations set out in the 2020 Paterson Inquiry Report. Of these, nine recommendations have been implemented or partially implemented, and four recommendations are in progress. While there is no timeline for full implementation, we are working with NHS England to implement the outstanding recommendations as quickly as possible.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what date the Paterson Inquiry Response Programme Board last met; who its current members are; whether representatives of former patients of Ian Paterson sit on it; and whether they intend to publish the Board's minutes.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In October 2021, the Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) updated its guidance on standard outpatient letters to make it clear that it is best practice for most outpatient letters to be written directly to the patient. The NHS Standard Contract states that outpatient letters should be consistent with PRSB’s standards. All National Health Service and independent sector providers are regulated by the Care Quality Commission, and assessments include how services ensure that patients understand and are involved in decisions regarding their care. As per the Competition and Markets Authority’s Order, private healthcare providers must send letters to patients prior to consultations or further tests and treatments setting out the costs, reasons, and other relevant information regarding the procedure.

Our records indicate that the Paterson Inquiry Response Programme Board last met virtually in 2023. Membership included representatives from the following bodies; the Department; NHS England; the Care Quality Commission; the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges; the Competition and Markets Authority; the General Medical Council; the Independent Healthcare Providers Network; the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service; the National Consultant Information Programme; NHS Digital; NHS Providers; NHS Resolution; the Professional Standards Authority; the Royal College of Surgeons; Spire; and the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. There are no current plans to publish the boards minutes.

As referenced in the answers to HL960 and HL1431, the Government accepted 13 of the 15 recommendations set out in the 2020 Paterson Inquiry Report. Of these, nine recommendations have been implemented or partially implemented, and four recommendations are in progress. While there is no timeline for full implementation, we are working with NHS England to implement the outstanding recommendations as quickly as possible.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 29 April (HL16570), what data they hold on compliance with the General Medical Council's guidance Decision making and consent; how many fitness to practise cases since November 2020 have involved a failure to give patients adequate time to reflect before consenting to surgical procedures; and what audits of consent practice have been undertaken in (1) the NHS, and (2) the independent sector, since the publication of the report by the Paterson Inquiry Report of the Independent Inquiry into the Issues raised by Paterson, published on 4 February 2020.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The General Medical Council (GMC) is independent of the Government, directly accountable to Parliament, and is responsible for operational matters concerning the discharge of its statutory duties. The United Kingdom’s model of healthcare professional regulation is founded on the principle of regulators operating independently from the Government.

The Department does not hold national datasets on what audits of consent practice have been undertaken in the National Health Service or in the independent sector, since the publication of the Paterson Inquiry Report published on 4 February 2020.

NHS England has integrated decision support tools into elective pathways of care. These tools support two stage shared decision making, which introduces a period of reflection for patients when deciding on treatment options and giving consent. This allows patients to take the time to fully understand the benefits and risks of treatment, talk with friends and family, and decide whether it is the most suitable option for them.

The Medical Practitioners Assurance Framework (MPAF) was developed by the Independent Healthcare Providers Network in response to reviews, including the Paterson Inquiry. The MPAF is designed to provide a basis from which all independent providers can work, giving confidence to patients and regulators, such as the Care Quality Commission, on what good looks like. The MPAF advises that policies need to provide for patients to be given specific time to reflect and make decisions.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress NHS England has made on the programme of work to explore a detransition pathway announced in August 2024; and when they expect a service specification to be published.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In line with recommendation 25 of the Cass Review, NHS England is developing a clinical pathway for individuals who wish to detransition.

Following engagement with those with lived experience, on 30 October 2025, NHS England published a call for evidence on a clinical pathway for adults who have previously undergone a gender transition and who wish to detransition to bring together professional opinion. The call for evidence closed on 28 December 2025.

NHS England is considering all relevant feedback that was submitted. It will collate views, evidence, and insights into a summary evidence report. NHS England will use this evidence, together with other intelligence and further engagement, to begin to define a clinical pathway which will be tested through further stakeholder engagement and public consultation later this year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether a draft service specification for a detransition service has been produced; and if so, whether they will place a copy in the Library of the House.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In line with recommendation 25 of the Cass Review, NHS England is developing a clinical pathway for individuals who wish to detransition.

Following engagement with those with lived experience, on 30 October 2025, NHS England published a call for evidence on a clinical pathway for adults who have previously undergone a gender transition and who wish to detransition to bring together professional opinion. The call for evidence closed on 28 December 2025.

NHS England is considering all relevant feedback that was submitted. It will collate views, evidence, and insights into a summary evidence report. NHS England will use this evidence, together with other intelligence and further engagement, to begin to define a clinical pathway which will be tested through further stakeholder engagement and public consultation later this year.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that commercial providers of Personal Independence Payment claim assistance clearly disclose their legal entity and company registration details to claimants before any fee agreement is entered into.

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

We are aware that some commercial providers offer paid assistance with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) applications. Claimants are actively encouraged to seek free, independent advice where possible. High quality support is available through government recognised services, including Citizens Advice and other local welfare advice organisations, which can provide guidance on entitlement and the application process at no cost.

We are continuing to strengthen safeguards within the system, including enhanced identity verification processes, increased scrutiny of supporting evidence, and training for Case Managers and Healthcare Professionals to identify inconsistencies or potentially fraudulent activity. Our focus remains on ensuring that individuals receive the support they are entitled to, while protecting the integrity of the benefits system.

The Department will continue to keep this area under review and work with relevant partners to ensure that claimants are able to access PIP support without unnecessary costs.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 29 April (HL16569), when they expect the information explaining to patients how care in the independent sector differs from NHS care to be published; and what has caused the delay in fulfilling this recommendation of the Paterson Inquiry report Report of the Independent Inquiry into the Issues raised by Paterson, published on 4 February 2020.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department recognises the importance of ensuring that patients have clear information about their care in the National Health Service, whether delivered by NHS providers or independent sector providers. We have recently published a set of patient experience minimum standards setting out our expectations of providers of NHS funded elective care while patients are on the waiting list.

We will provide an update on this commitment in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to revise the guidance in the NHS service specification on gender identity services for adults that psychological interventions "will not be offered routinely or considered mandatory" in the light of the findings of the Cass Review, published in April 2024, and the Operational and delivery review of NHS adult gender dysphoria clinics in England, published in December 2025, that patients may have complex needs and co-occurring conditions.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England plans to publish new service specifications for adult gender services, for the purpose of public consultation, later this year. As part of its work to build new service specifications, Dr David Levy, who chaired the Operational and Delivery Review of Adult Gender Services, is overseeing work to define 'clinical complexity' in the context of the adult gender pathway, and for the new service specification to describe the clinical approach for responding to complexity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term life outcomes, functioning, and attainment of major life milestones for individuals who have undergone medical gender transition through adult gender clinics.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Following the completion of the Independent Cass Review of NHS Gender Services for Children and Young People (the Cass Review), NHS England brought forward its planned review of adult gender dysphoria services. This review, led by Dr David Levy, examined the operating procedures in each adult gender service and the appropriateness of the service model for the presenting population, considered areas of concern for improvement, and identified good practice that could be shared with other clinics, as well as actions being taken to improve service quality.

In accordance with the Cass Review, the review of adult gender dysphoria services identified the need for improved clinical data, and for further research, to build a more comprehensive evidence base on which to better understand the needs of individuals being referred into adult gender services, to shape service and treatment delivery, and to better understand patient experience and outcomes.

Alongside work being undertaken to develop a common data set and associated registry arrangements, to embed quality improvement, to build and support research capacity and capability, and invest in clinical service delivery across National Health Service gender services, the James Lind Alliance is running two priority setting partnerships (PSPs) which are providing the opportunity to help identify and prioritise future gender research priorities. The Youth Diversity PSP will produce a top 10 list of research priorities for children and young people aged five to 25 years old, whilst the Trans, Non-Binary and Gender-Diverse Adults PSP is focussing on the research priorities for adults aged 18 years old and over. The National Institute for Health and Care Research will be able to build on the outputs of both PSPs to inform future calls for further gender research that specifically responds to the most important research questions identified in collaboration with stakeholders, including patients and their families, clinicians, and education and social care professionals.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have commissioned research to establish the rate at which patients treated at adult Gender Dysphoria Clinics subsequently detransition, express regret about their transition, or discontinue treatment.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Cass Review concluded that the percentage of people who subsequently detransition following medical intervention remains unknown due to the lack of long-term follow-up studies.

In response to the recommendations of the Cass Review and the Operational and Delivery Review of Adult Gender Services, NHS England plans to consult on a service specification for a detransition pathway later this year, an element of which will be proposals for building the evidence through data collection, formal research and clinical audit.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government when NHS England's evidence review of hormone treatment for adults with gender dysphoria will be published; and whether the NHS service specification on gender identity services for adults will be revised in the light of the findings of the review before any new services are commissioned.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England plans to publish proposed clinical commissioning policies for the use of masculinising and feminising hormones in adult gender services later in the summer, for the purpose of public consultation. Separately, NHS England plans to publish new service specifications for adult gender services, for the purpose of public consultation, later this year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 29 April (HL16567), whether the National Consultant Information Programme (1) is publicly accessible to patients, (2) includes data on consultants practising in the independent sector, and (3) records the practising privileges held by consultants; and what assessment they have made of that Programme's compliance with the Paterson Inquiry's recommendation for a single repository of information about consultants across England.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Consultant Information Programme (NCIP) is publicly accessible to patients on the Getting It Right First Time website.

The NCIP portal is a free data platform containing consultant and provider-level activity and outcomes data for over 500 procedures in 13 surgical specialties. It covers National Health Service practices, NHS funded work in the independent sector, and privately funded work carried out in the NHS. Over time, the ambition is to add independent sector data, to provide a single repository of whole practice. Currently, patients are not able to access this data.

NCIP allows consultants in 13 surgical specialties to access their individual outcomes data, for personal learning, clinical governance, and appraisals. NCIP does not record practising privileges in the independent sector.

NCIP is a critical part of the response to the Paterson Inquiry, which recommended that there should be a single repository of the whole practice of consultants across England. By sharing high-quality outcome data, consultants, their appraisers, and responsible officers can compare outcomes for their practice or use peer review to improve their performance in a way that is measurable and objective, leading to better safety and efficiency across the NHS.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that victims of Ian Paterson are formally notified of, and given the opportunity to make representations regarding, any decisions relating to his early release or change of custodial category.

Answered by Lord Timpson

By law, the Victim Contact Scheme (VCS) is available to the victims of offenders convicted of specified violent, sexual or terrorism offences who are sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or more. Victims who choose to participate in the Scheme are allocated a Victim Liaison Officer (VLO), who keeps them informed of key developments in the offender's sentence, including relevant prison categorisation reviews and release arrangements.

Where a prisoner is being considered for transfer to open conditions, prisons must establish whether there are any victims are engaged with the VCS and, if there are, inform their VLO. The VLO in turn notifies the victims, so that the victims have the opportunity to provide information about the potential risks of moving the prisoner to an open prison. The victims may also make representations about licence conditions, such as exclusion zones and non-contact requirements, in the event that the prisoner is subsequently approved for release on temporary licence.

The VCS provides the same statutory entitlements to all participating victims, regardless of the nature of the qualifying offence. Where an offender's release is considered by the Parole Board, victims may submit a Victim Personal Statement and apply to observe any oral hearing held by the Parole Board. Where an offender is released automatically at a statutory release point, without Parole Board involvement, victims cannot make representations to the Parole Board, because it plays no role in the release decision. In such cases, victims may still make representations regarding licence conditions.

The Sentencing Act 2026 contains provisions which will change the proportion of a standard determinate sentence which must be served in prison before the offender serving such a sentence is released automatically on licence. Those provisions will come into force on 2 September 2026 and may affect the scheduled release dates of those currently serving a standard determinate sentence. VLOs are notifying participating victims, including victims of Ian Paterson, where there is a conviction relating to them, they are eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme and have chosen to receive the services provided under the Scheme. Further updates will be provided to confirm whether release dates have changed as a result of the new arrangements.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether victims of serious medical malpractice resulting in convictions for wounding with intent have the same statutory rights to make representations to the Parole Board as victims of violent crime; and if not, whether they have any plans to extend such rights to these victims.

Answered by Lord Timpson

By law, the Victim Contact Scheme (VCS) is available to the victims of offenders convicted of specified violent, sexual or terrorism offences who are sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or more. Victims who choose to participate in the Scheme are allocated a Victim Liaison Officer (VLO), who keeps them informed of key developments in the offender's sentence, including relevant prison categorisation reviews and release arrangements.

Where a prisoner is being considered for transfer to open conditions, prisons must establish whether there are any victims are engaged with the VCS and, if there are, inform their VLO. The VLO in turn notifies the victims, so that the victims have the opportunity to provide information about the potential risks of moving the prisoner to an open prison. The victims may also make representations about licence conditions, such as exclusion zones and non-contact requirements, in the event that the prisoner is subsequently approved for release on temporary licence.

The VCS provides the same statutory entitlements to all participating victims, regardless of the nature of the qualifying offence. Where an offender's release is considered by the Parole Board, victims may submit a Victim Personal Statement and apply to observe any oral hearing held by the Parole Board. Where an offender is released automatically at a statutory release point, without Parole Board involvement, victims cannot make representations to the Parole Board, because it plays no role in the release decision. In such cases, victims may still make representations regarding licence conditions.

The Sentencing Act 2026 contains provisions which will change the proportion of a standard determinate sentence which must be served in prison before the offender serving such a sentence is released automatically on licence. Those provisions will come into force on 2 September 2026 and may affect the scheduled release dates of those currently serving a standard determinate sentence. VLOs are notifying participating victims, including victims of Ian Paterson, where there is a conviction relating to them, they are eligible for the Victim Contact Scheme and have chosen to receive the services provided under the Scheme. Further updates will be provided to confirm whether release dates have changed as a result of the new arrangements.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many patients of adult gender dysphoria clinics are simultaneously receiving prescriptions from private or overseas online providers; and what mechanisms exist to identify such patients.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Neither the Department nor NHS England hold this information.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether breast reconstruction surgery is routinely available on the NHS to women who detransition following a mastectomy carried out as treatment for gender dysphoria; and if not, why mastectomy is routinely commissioned but reconstruction is not.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has a published service specification that covers the provision of surgical interventions for individuals on the National Health Service pathway of care for the treatment of gender dysphoria. Providers are expected to follow this service specification.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what regulatory action has been taken following the closure of the WellBN practice in Brighton; and what assessment they have made of whether other primary care providers are prescribing gender-related medication outside national clinical policy.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As an outcome of an Independent Patient Safety Investigation by the National Health Service, the WellBN Practice in Brighton has stopped prescribing hormone medications to children under 18 years old for gender dysphoria, outside of NHS clinical commissioning policy.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) suspended WellBN’s ‘Good’ rating while concerns with the practice were investigated further. Suspension of ratings does not mean closure of the practice or suspension of the service’s registration with the CQC.

As part of their ongoing inspection, the CQC is also reviewing historical information relating to prescribing practices at the service. This may involve the use of the CQC’s legal powers to investigate incidents where individuals may have experienced harm or been put at risk of harm within health and social care services in England.

Additionally, a number of former and current clinicians at WellBN have been referred for the purpose of further professional investigation, both through their independent professional regulator and/or through the NHS professional standards mechanism.

The NHS has analysed prescribing data relating to hormone treatments given to children under 18 years old among general practices across England and it found that the WellBN Practice was a clear outlier.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what safeguarding requirements apply to adult gender dysphoria clinics when patients present with a history of childhood trauma, abuse or serious mental illness.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Safeguarding is firmly embedded within the core duties and statutory responsibilities of all organisations that provide National Health Services. The organisations that manage adult gender dysphoria clinics will have reference to NHS England's Safeguarding Accountability and Assurance Framework, 5th edition, published 2026, that sets out the safeguarding roles and responsibilities for NHS-commissioned providers and sets out the legal framework for safeguarding adults.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance has been issued to safeguarding leads in local authorities regarding parental disagreement with a child's or young adult's wish to undergo social or medical transition.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No such guidance has been issued.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to set out a policy on the suitability of accommodating biological males in the women’s prison estate.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The policy inherited by this Government is that no transgender woman charged with or convicted of a sexual or violent offence, or who retains birth genitalia, can be held in the general women’s estate, other than in exceptional circumstances and where granted an exemption by a minister. No such exemptions have been granted under this Government.

We are currently reviewing transgender prisoner allocation policy in light of the recently updated EHRC Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations, and will be able to say more on this shortly.