Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2026 to Question 4166 on Equality: Gender and Intersex, whether the new guidance changes the 13 weeks of paid special leave for transgender staff undergoing gender reassignment.

The model Special Leave suite of products was updated in May 2026 to align with the provision for all other employees, as set out in the model Policy and Guidance: Supporting Trans and Non-binary employees and Supporting Attendance Policy and Guidance. The model policy no longer includes 13 weeks provision for time-off for gender-reassignment and these absences, or time-off for appointments for gender-reassignment reasons, should be treated as any other absence or time-off for appointments.

Departments have delegated authority to determine the terms and conditions of employment for their employees, depending on their specific business requirements and the nature of the role.