Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to page 11 of the Government response to the First Report from the Women and Equalities Committee, Session 2015-16, on Transgender Equality, column 9301, published in July 2016, what progress the Government has made on reviewing the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to determine whether changes can be made to streamline and de-medicalise the gender recognition process.

In our response to the Committee in July, the Government committed to a range of significant actions designed to improve the lives and experiences of transgender people.

We agree with the Committee that issues raised are serious and complex. That is why we are engaging with stakeholders to make sure any changes we make are based on evidence and user needs.

On the action plans specifically, we are in the process of collating updates and will publish a summary in 2017.

On reforms to the Gender Recognition Act, we’ve been engaging with ministers on how to take this commitment forward and we have begun our stakeholder engagement programme by meeting the Gender Recognition Panel.

We will provide an update on the Government’s progress in 2017.