Debates between Stuart Andrew and Andrew Lewer during the 2019-2024 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stuart Andrew and Andrew Lewer
Wednesday 12th July 2023

(1 year, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Stuart Andrew Portrait The Minister for Equalities (Stuart Andrew)
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The hon. Lady raises a very important point. I am pleased to report that I have met colleagues in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and we have held a roundtable to discuss exactly those issues. One of the key elements, which we really need to do, is to gather the data so that we can better understand some of the causes and what the solutions might be to help those people.

Andrew Lewer Portrait Andrew Lewer (Northampton South) (Con)
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T6. How many discussions has the Secretary of State had with Department for Education colleagues about forthcoming guidance on trans-identifying children?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stuart Andrew and Andrew Lewer
Wednesday 8th March 2023

(1 year, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrew Lewer Portrait Andrew Lewer (Northampton South) (Con)
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6. What progress her Department has made on amending the application process for a gender recognition certificate.

Stuart Andrew Portrait The Minister for Equalities (Stuart Andrew)
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The Government have taken steps to modernise the application process for obtaining a gender recognition certificate and to make applications more affordable. GRC applicants are now required to pay £5 and the newly developed digital application process for GRCs launched on 29 June.

Andrew Lewer Portrait Andrew Lewer
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Does the Minister agree that it is important to have a consistent approach to the recognition of overseas countries’ GRC schemes and that, because of the complex interaction with the Equality Act 2010, it is right to recognise the schemes of only those countries that have equivalent approaches?

Stuart Andrew Portrait Stuart Andrew
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A consistent approach to GRCs is fundamental to the effective functioning of legislation in this area. The GB-wide Equality Act was carefully drafted in the light of, and to reflect, the specific limits of the UK-wide Gender Recognition Act 2004. It is important, for the effective functioning of the Equality Act, that the recognition of international GRCs is in line with the basic principles of the GRA.