Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2017 to Question 117778, on gender recognition, what steps her Department has taken to ensure the correct application of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 in the workplace.

We will soon launch a broad consultation on amending this Act. The consultation will focus on making the process of legally changing gender less bureaucratic and intrusive for transgender people. We will engage with businesses and employers during the consultation to gain their views.

As the Minister for Women and Equalities only acquired responsibility for the Gender Recognition Act on 16 November 2017 from the Ministry of Justice, no prior consideration had been made by the Department for Education.

The Government Equalities Office, however, issued guidance on supporting transgender employers in the workplace in November 2015. This included a section on the Gender Recognition Act 2004. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service also recently updated its advice to employers on managing transgender staff.