Puberty Blockers Trial: Consent

Lord Scriven Excerpts

Thursday 25th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Cass (CB)]

My Lords—

[Lord Scriven (LD)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the King’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard and Deputy Chief Whip (Baroness Wheeler) (Lab)]

My Lords, we will hear from the Liberal Democrats.

[Lord Scriven (LD)]

My Lords, the review from the noble Baroness, Lady Cass, warned that having no formal medical routes risks driving families towards unregulated online pharmacies and private clinics abroad. Given that an indefinite pause of the trial left some highly vulnerable young people in a state of clinical limbo, does the Minister agree that getting an evidence-gathering trial under way would be an effective way to protect them from the dangers of these unregulated and unmonitored markets?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I certainly do agree. As I have said, having put a ban in place, we will take action against those who seek to transgress and benefit from it by seeking to sell drugs that are not permitted. That is a totally unacceptable route for them to follow. They risk the safety and well-being of children.