Gender Recognition Act Consultation Debate

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Department: Department for International Trade

Gender Recognition Act Consultation

Felicity Buchan Excerpts
Thursday 24th September 2020

(4 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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I have set out the Government’s position on transgender rights, in terms of making sure that we protect those rights and making the process kinder and more straightforward in improving transgender healthcare services. As for what corporates’ views are, that is a matter for them rather than the Government.

Felicity Buchan Portrait Felicity Buchan (Kensington) (Con)
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I welcome the very measured and conciliatory tone that the Minister has taken today. I welcome the improvements to transgender health services and the protection of vulnerable women, in terms of the retention of single-sex spaces in places such as domestic abuse shelters. Will my right hon. Friend outline the Government’s approach to women’s prisons?

Elizabeth Truss Portrait Elizabeth Truss
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My hon. Friend is right that under the Equality Act 2010, service providers can restrict entry on the basis of biological sex. Of course, there are cases, such as women’s refuges and prisons, where that is an important issue.