Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the draft guidance by the Equality and Human Rights Commission entitled Code of practice for services, public functions and associations, published on 20 May 2025, on (a) operational readiness and (b) combat effectiveness (i) of all service personnel and (ii) of service personnel who are trans.

Defence welcomes the Supreme Court's ruling and the clarity that it brings. The independent Equality and Human Rights Commission is now developing its updated statutory Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations and we will liaise with them through our engagement with the Office for Equalities and Opportunity as they progress this work. The application of the Supreme Court ruling in some settings is complex and that is why it is important we await the Code of Practice before applying the Equality Act on a day-to-day basis.