Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that LGBTQ+ people receive equitable support in being able to start a family; and what steps he is taking to tackle inequalities for lesbian and bi women accessing IVF treatment under NICE guidelines.

We are currently sponsoring a multi-year joint project of the Law Commission for England and Wales and Scotland to review and update surrogacy legislation. The reform aims to ensure that there is greater clarity for all participants in surrogacy arrangements, particularly in respect of legal parenthood. This will benefit male same-sex couples, who represent approximately half of United Kingdom surrogacy arrangements.

We have also agreed with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to review their fertility guideline, which will consider the current access criteria to treatment for same sex couples.