Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what is the process for authorising the approval of the transfer of a biological male prisoner into the female prison estate.

There are currently seven biological male prisoners at HMP Downview and all of them are on E Wing, which is a transgender only facility.

No transgender women who retain their birth genitalia, and/or have any history of sexual or violent offences, can be held in the general women’s estate unless an exemption is granted by a Minister.  The current Government has not moved any transgender women into the general women’s estate since taking office.

We are reviewing the policy in light of the Supreme Court ruling and will set out any changes to our approach in due course.