To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Speech in Lords Chamber - Sat 10 Sep 2022
Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

"My Lords, it is a great privilege to be able to take part in this tribute today. As the noble Lord, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, pointed out, everything that could be said has probably been said already by far greater people than me, but she has been my Queen …..."
Lord Blencathra - View Speech

View all Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 12 Jan 2022
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"My Lords, I think that my noble friend has inadvertently answered the question of when it will be done. It is quite clear, reading between the lines, that the Home Office does not intend to do it ever. So do the Home Office, he and the Home Secretary still stand …..."
Lord Blencathra - View Speech

View all Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 12 Jan 2022
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"My Lords, I intervene to ask my noble friend a question. I listened carefully to what he said and I completely support the amendment, but does it go far enough? I cannot find any excuse or justification for anyone who is not a family member to take any photographs of …..."
Lord Blencathra - View Speech

View all Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 12 Jan 2022
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"..."
Lord Blencathra - View Speech

View all Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 12 Jan 2022
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"My Lords, this amendment is in my name and those of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Judge, and my noble friend Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts. I say to my noble friend Lord Sharpe that I am sorry that Ministers in this House once again have to take the …..."
Lord Blencathra - View Speech

View all Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Written Question
Prisoners: Gender Recognition
Tuesday 16th November 2021

Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many male prisoners who are transitioning to female, or who have a gender recognition certificate, are incarcerated in prison units holding female biological sex inmates; and what proportion of those prisoners have retained their full male genitalia.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) record the legal (rather than biological) gender of prisoners. For transgender prisoners with gender recognition certificates (GRCs), this is in line with the Gender Recognition Act 2004. Where required for statistical purposes, data on the characteristic of gender reassignment is obtained via a separate matching exercise, using information from the annual collection of data on transgender prisoners.

At the time of HMPPS’ latest Offender Equalities Report (conducted on 31st March 2019), of 129 transgender prisoners in the men’s prison estate, there were none who identified as male, although ten individuals did not specify their gender identity during the data exercise.

92% of transgender women (those who were of male sex at birth and now identify as women) were held in the men’s estate. There were 11 transgender prisoners in the female estate who identified as female (out of 34 transgender prisoners in total). Because of the way gender identity data was previously collected, it is important to note that the above figures may also include those who identified in other ways, such as those who are non-binary. This data does not include prisoners with gender recognition certificates. HMPPS continue to refine the scope and quality of data relating to gender identity.

Transgender prisoners are managed on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with ‘The Care and Management of Individuals who are Transgender’ policy framework. All risks (both to and from the prisoner) are thoroughly considered, including anatomy where appropriate.


Written Question
Prisoners: Gender Recognition
Tuesday 16th November 2021

Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many female prisoners who are transitioning to male, or who have a gender recognition certificate, are incarcerated in prison units holding male biological sex inmates.

Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar - Shadow Attorney General

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) record the legal (rather than biological) gender of prisoners. For transgender prisoners with gender recognition certificates (GRCs), this is in line with the Gender Recognition Act 2004. Where required for statistical purposes, data on the characteristic of gender reassignment is obtained via a separate matching exercise, using information from the annual collection of data on transgender prisoners.

At the time of HMPPS’ latest Offender Equalities Report (conducted on 31st March 2019), of 129 transgender prisoners in the men’s prison estate, there were none who identified as male, although ten individuals did not specify their gender identity during the data exercise.

92% of transgender women (those who were of male sex at birth and now identify as women) were held in the men’s estate. There were 11 transgender prisoners in the female estate who identified as female (out of 34 transgender prisoners in total). Because of the way gender identity data was previously collected, it is important to note that the above figures may also include those who identified in other ways, such as those who are non-binary. This data does not include prisoners with gender recognition certificates. HMPPS continue to refine the scope and quality of data relating to gender identity.

Transgender prisoners are managed on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with ‘The Care and Management of Individuals who are Transgender’ policy framework. All risks (both to and from the prisoner) are thoroughly considered, including anatomy where appropriate.


Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 15 Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"..."
Lord Blencathra - View Speech

View all Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 15 Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"My Lords, I am moving this amendment in my name and those of my noble friends to defend the rights of female prisoners. This is not something I ever imagined I would have to do. In my 38 years in Parliament, I have always supported the rights of women, but …..."
Lord Blencathra - View Speech

View all Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 15 Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"The noble Lord is looking at me and implying that I suggested that transgender men were a threat to children. I said no such thing at all. I quoted the case of a male rapist who had raped two children. I was not suggesting that this was endemic in the …..."
Lord Blencathra - View Speech

View all Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill