Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure that providers of women-only domestic and sexual violence support services abide by the Equality Act 2010 by supporting transgender women.

The Government is committed to supporting all victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse, including through the provisions of the Domestic Abuse Bill. We continue to work closely with domestic abuse organisations, including those representing LGBT victims, to assess ongoing needs and ensure that commissioning of services is fully inclusive.

The government believes that the protection of single-sex spaces, as provided for in the Equality Act, is important. The Equality Act makes it clear that providers have the right to restrict use of spaces on the basis of sex, and to exclude transgender people from those spaces, where this is justified. This position is unchanged since 2010 and we believe it strikes the right balance. All victims, regardless of their gender, have the right to access victim support services and be treated with respect, dignity, sensitivity and compassion.