Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will publish the legal advice received by Government in advance of their Section 35 Order on the Gender Recognition Reform Bill (Scotland).

Further to my answer of 24 January (UIN 125468), it is long-standing government practice, accepted by successive administrations, not to publish legal advice provided to the Government. The order, and a full Statement of Reasons published alongside it, set out in full the adverse effects the Government is concerned about in relation to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.