Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to (a) reduce instances of attempted suicide and (b) improve the mental health in respect of prisoners diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

In 2016 we reviewed the care and management of transgender offenders and a new instruction and guidance for staff was published and became operational in January 2017. Transgender prisoners are viewed as an ‘at-risk’ group in terms of suicide and self-harm. Assessment Care in Custody Team (ACCT) procedures are used for any prisoner at risk of suicide or self-harm. In March 2017 we issued guidance to prison staff about the risks and triggers for self-harm in this group, along with more general advice, to enable them better to support transgender prisoners.

Where a prisoner has a diagnosis of gender dysphoria a local transgender case board will be convened within three days of their reception to agree a tailored approach to their wider care and management, including their health and social care needs.