Scotland Act 1998: Section 35 Power Debate

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Department: Scotland Office
Tuesday 17th January 2023

(1 year, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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First of all, of course we respect and support the trans community. If the hon. Lady wants to raise specific issues, the Minister for Women and Equalities is very happy to have a meeting with her.

Paul Bristow Portrait Paul Bristow (Peterborough) (Con)
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Does my right hon. Friend agree that, if this House passed legislation that impinged on what should be a devolved competence, there would be howls of protest from the SNP Benches. [Interruption.] The fact that they are shouting down women in this House over UK-based equality legislation shows that this is not about equality at all; it is all about bashing the UK, and, for them, single sex-based rights is just collateral damage.

Alister Jack Portrait Mr Jack
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My hon. Friend makes a very fair point. For me, this is not about anything other than following the legal advice on the adverse effects on UK-wide equality legislation, which of course involves safe single-sex spaces.