Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the proposed timetable is for bringing forward legislative proposals to ban gay conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy is wrong. We are determined to bring an end to this abhorrent practice and, as we said in the LGBT Action Plan, we are considering all legislative and non-legislative options to do this.

We recognise this is a complex issue that we need to get right. We want to engage widely, and listen carefully, so that we can develop a range of measures that end these practices for good. We are conducting more detailed research into the experiences of those that have undergone conversion therapy, and will task the LGBT Advisory Panel with looking into this issue as their first priority when they meet for the first time, in the new year.

Ending these practices will take time. It is crucial we get our response right so that we protect people from harm.