Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the existing legislative framework to end conversion therapy.

The Government Equalities Office are reviewing the current legislative framework to see where and how the harmful and unacceptable practices referred to as conversion therapy may already be captured by existing laws and offences.

As my honourable friend will know, there are certain abhorrent and violent practices which may be classed as conversion therapy such as ‘corrective’ rape, or other forms of physical abuse, which are already covered by existing criminal offences. Where such practices are already unlawful, we will ensure the law is clear, well understood and enforced.

Where dangerous conversion therapy practices are not already unlawful, we are examining the best ways to prevent them being conducted, without sending such practices underground.

We will outline plans to end Conversion Therapy practice in due course.