Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what meetings (a) he has and (b) his Ministers have had with (i) the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (ii) other Ministers in the Department for Health and Social Care on the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Bill on the (A) quality of, (B) use of and (C) safety considerations for data on a person's sex.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Secretary of State and Ministers meet with health Ministers regularly to discuss a range of topics. The Secretary of State and Ministers have not met with health Ministers specifically to discuss the Data (Use and Access) Bill and sex data. Official level engagement has taken place to share information regarding the ways the NHS handles medical records in the process of an individual changing gender, and ensures individuals are correctly registered for relevant screenings and other sex/specific treatment. We have used the insights from this engagement to inform our approach to the Bill.