Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar on 9 March (HL13570), what consideration they have given to the views of women prisoners regarding the possibility of being searched by people identifying as transgender women in their review of the national policy on the searching of prisoners.

The national policy on the searching of prisoners, staff and visitors (PSI 07/2016 – Searching of the Person) is currently under review and a revised version is intended to be published later this year.

In reviewing the policy, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has consulted with the Government’s Legal Department and HMPPS Equalities Team. Further consultation will be made with contributing groups including HMPPS women’s group. The new policy will be compliant with the Equality Act 2010, Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the European Convention of Human Rights.