Baroness Jenkin of Kennington

The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against discrimination and harassment and related harassment due to any of the nine protected characteristics covered by the Act. It protects people from discrimination, in the workplace, when accessing services and in wider society.

The nine protected characteristics in the Act are:

• age;
• disability;
• gender reassignment;
• marriage and civil partnership;
• pregnancy and maternity;
• race;
• religion or belief;
• sex;
• sexual orientation.

The Government has no current plans to add to the list of protected characteristics.

The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) prevents employers from treating people more favourably because of a particular protected characteristic. The positive action provisions in the Act along with certain disability provisions allow some limited exceptions to this general principle of discrimination law, and employers need to understand how these exceptions work in order to use them effectively and avoid straying into unlawful positive discrimination.

In April 2023, the previous government published guidance to help employers understand the difference between positive action and positive discrimination. The guidance is available on gov.uk at www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers.

As I stated in the answer to HL2061, at the time of the commencement of The Gender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023, the international systems that were on the list were comparable to the UK’s standard route to legal gender recognition.

We continue to work with our counterparts in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to ensure that any changes internationally are monitored and noted for future updates. The list was last updated in April 2024, and the previous update was 2011. We are committed to more regularly updating the list of approved countries and territories when applying for gender recognition in the UK.

Regarding the Gender Recognition Panel, they have appropriate guidance and training in order to carry out the gender recognition process in alignment with the current law.

As I stated in the answer to HL2061, at the time of the commencement of The Gender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023, the international systems that were on the list were comparable to the UK’s standard route to legal gender recognition.

We continue to work with our counterparts in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to ensure that any changes internationally are monitored and noted for future updates. The list was last updated in April 2024, and the previous update was 2011. We are committed to more regularly updating the list of approved countries and territories when applying for gender recognition in the UK.

Regarding the Gender Recognition Panel, they have appropriate guidance and training in order to carry out the gender recognition process in alignment with the current law.

As I stated in the answer to HL2061, at the time of the commencement of The Gender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023, the international systems that were on the list were comparable to the UK’s standard route to legal gender recognition.

We continue to work with our counterparts in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to ensure that any changes internationally are monitored and noted for future updates. The list was last updated in April 2024, and the previous update was 2011. We are committed to more regularly updating the list of approved countries and territories when applying for gender recognition in the UK.

Regarding the Gender Recognition Panel, they have appropriate guidance and training in order to carry out the gender recognition process in alignment with the current law.

The Government Property Agency (GPA) follows the building regulations and relevant legislation of the devolved nations it is operating in.

The GPA has adopted the principles laid out in Toilet Accommodation: Approved Document T into its Workplace Design guidance.

Neither the Cabinet Office nor the Government Property Agency (GPA) have a specific policy in relation to (a) the removal of legacy gender-neutral toilets on the government estates, or (b) the provision of self-contained universal toilets in addition to single-sex toilets.

The GPA does have a guidance document that is used in new build or refurbishment projects across the part of the GPA estate where it is accountable for WC provision. This guidance follows the current requirements of the statutory guidance Toilet Accommodation: Approved Document T.

The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.

The controls outlined in the Civil Service Equality Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance, which was published on 14 May 2024, remain in place.

Information on how issued funding is spent by arms length bodies, including payments to third party organisations, is not gathered centrally.

We are currently considering the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Review commissioned by the previous Government.

I refer the Noble Lady to the answer I gave on 22nd May to question UIN HL7319 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament).

The procurement was run through a fair and open competition with pre-agreed terms and conditions. Suppliers were required to declare any conflict of interest during the procurement and give a full account how they would avoid any future conflict of interest. All supplier responses were thoroughly reviewed by the evaluation panel, with no concerns raised.

The study is being conducted by the University of Cambridge but includes a wider consortium of experts from a range of universities. The project team will be led by Dr Amy Orben, a Programme Leader at the University of Cambridge.

The study’s objectives are to review existing research on the impact of social media and smartphones on children’s developmental outcomes, evaluate methodologies to develop causal evidence on the topic and to recommend an approach to produce causal evidence in the next 2-3 years.

This is an independent review, and Professor Sullivan is fully responsible for the report’s contents and for engaging with relevant stakeholders. Where stakeholders have been engaged since the general election, the decision was made by Professor Sullivan.

As per the Terms of Reference, a draft version of the report was submitted to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and to the Cabinet Office ahead of the final version of the report. Ministers have not been involved in the drafting of the report. As per usual practice, officials have provided light-touch, optional feedback on matters of drafting.

The government is committed to freedom of speech, including in the cultural sector, and the Secretary of State for Culture has expressed an unequivocal ambition that the era of the government stoking “culture wars” should be over. The government is clear that whilst it is right that protections from discrimination exist for LGBT+ people, such as those contained in the Equality Act, this does not prohibit people from expressing their views, opinions or beliefs which are also protected. However, it is important to protect people from illegal discrimination, harassment, and hate speech.

The government meets with Arts Council England on a regular basis to discuss and hold it to account on a wide range of issues. All Arts Council Staff are expected to uphold the Nolan principles, which includes Objectivity. That principle notes that holders of public office must act and make decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

Arts Council England has clearly stated its commitment to freedom of expression for artists and cultural organisations, which it views as a foundational value. Darren Henley, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, has been unequivocal to parliament on this matter: for any legally constituted organisation that is entitled under Arts Council rules to make an application to them, that application will be considered absolutely fairly, and Arts Council will be looking at the artistic and creative content of that in the same way as they would any other application.

Driving licences do not currently specify the sex or gender of the licence holder and there are no plans to change this.

I refer the noble Baroness to the answer I gave to question HL1037 on 18 September.

The DWP’s standards of behaviour statement requires employees to dress in a professional and business-like way. Professional and business-like has a normal, everyday meaning.

The DWP’s standards of behaviour statement requires employees to dress in a professional and business-like way. Professional and business-like has a normal, everyday meaning.

The Department and NHS England have had no communications with the Professional Records Standards Body about the definition of gender identity and gender.

In 2018 NHS England issued guidance to general practitioners (GPs) about the role of primary care in responding to requests for a shared care approach to prescribing hormone treatments to adult patients when the request is from an online private provider.

For patients who are under 18 years old, the NHS stopped the routine prescription of puberty blocker treatments in March 2024, following the findings of the Cass Review into gender services. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues were subsequently restricted as part of an emergency banning order which took effect June 2024.

In August 2024, NHS England wrote to all GPs in England responsible for prescribing GnRH analogues, to clarify application of this new legislation in clinical practice-based scenarios. In December 2024, the Department announced that the order banning the use of puberty blockers for individuals younger than 18 years old would be made indefinite. A further update to NHS England’s guidance was provided to GPs that same month.

In May 2025, NHS England issued guidance that advised GPs not to support unregulated providers in prescribing hormone treatments for gender incongruence to children and young people under 18 years old.

The Department does not hold this information. NHS England does hold this information on an exceptional basis when concerns are made about the prescribing practices of individual general practices, including when the concerns have been made as part of a professional standards investigation.

For patients who are under 18 years old, the NHS stopped the routine prescription of puberty blocker treatments to under 18s in March 2024, following the findings of the Cass Review into gender services. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues were subsequently restricted as part of an emergency banning order which took effect June 2024.

In August 2024, NHS England wrote to all general practitioners (GPs) in England responsible for prescribing GnRH analogues, to clarify application of this new legislation in clinical practice-based scenarios. In December 2024, the Department announced that the order banning the use of puberty blockers for individuals younger than 18 years old would be made indefinite. A further update to NHS England’s guidance was provided to GPs that same month.

In May 2025, NHS England issued guidance that advised GPs not to support unregulated providers in prescribing hormone treatments for gender incongruence to children and young people under 18 years old.

The Review of Adult Gender Services is aiming to publish its report later in summer 2025. NHS England and the Government will need time to consider the findings, advice, and recommendations before issuing their response.

The Review has examined records, including patient case notes, and conducted site visits at each of the nine adult gender dysphoria clinics to develop a detailed understanding of the operation and delivery of services within each clinic. Further information about how evidence was gathered is detailed in the published key lines of enquiry, a copy of which is attached.

The Review conducted focus groups with patients of the services, and detailed surveys for patients of the service, their friends and family, and for clinicians delivering these services.

The Review of Adult Gender Services is aiming to publish its report later in summer 2025. NHS England and the Government will need time to consider the findings, advice, and recommendations before issuing their response.

The Review has examined records, including patient case notes, and conducted site visits at each of the nine adult gender dysphoria clinics to develop a detailed understanding of the operation and delivery of services within each clinic. Further information about how evidence was gathered is detailed in the published key lines of enquiry, a copy of which is attached.

The Review conducted focus groups with patients of the services, and detailed surveys for patients of the service, their friends and family, and for clinicians delivering these services.

The Supreme Court decision concerned the definition of a woman in the context of the UK Equality Act 2010.

In line with the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, the UK aims to ensure that the needs of women, girls, and marginalised people, including those who are LGBT+, are properly considered in conflict response. The EU-UK Security and Defence Partnership provides a framework for dialogue and cooperation with the EU, including on this issue.

Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations and the impact on programmes are being worked through following the decision to reduce UK ODA from 0.5 per cent of gross national income to 0.3 per cent in 2027. We will set out our spending plans following the completion of the spending review.

The UK has taken action to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through FCDO-supported programmes to ensure equitable postpartum and post abortion contraception provisions. The UK delivers on this through several programmes including the Reproductive Health Supplies programme and WISH Dividend programme, and through partners including the Safe Abortion Action Fund to deliver on providing access to key sexual and reproductive health services including post-partum and post-abortion contraception options and to support governments to prioritise equitable access to comprehensive SRHR.

The UK is proud to defend and promote universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to modern methods of contraception. The UK has a broad range of programming focused on reaching the most vulnerable and marginalised people with education and contraceptive access including through the UNFPA Supplies Partnership; core funding to UNFPA; via our Women's Integrated Sexual Health Programme (WISH) in Africa; and through our support to Global Financing Facility (GFF) for Women Children and Adolescents to strengthen government systems to deliver on reproductive health.

The FCDO actively supports women's and girls' right to be able to make their own, informed decisions about modern methods of contraception. We have significantly increased access to voluntary family planning globally. In 2023, the UNFPA Supplies Partnership, which includes the UK, reached 23 million women and girls in the lowest income countries.

Midwives are crucial to ensuring guidance and access to contraception is integrated into maternal health services. The FCDO recently signed an agreement with the International Confederation of Midwives, aiming to strengthen midwifery associations in three countries. Funding will support midwives to implement the midwifery models of care framework.