Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that Sex Offender Treatment Programmes are (a) open and (b) welcoming for biologically male transgender prisoners convicted of sexual offences who are held in the male estate.

Accredited sexual offender (SO) programmes are not currently available in the women’s estate. However, bespoke interventions are provided where required to ensure that we properly manage the risk posed by all offenders.

In the male estate, the accredited SO programmes are open to individuals who are legally male but identify as female.

A strategic review of all HMPPS designed accredited programmes is underway and will include consideration of the interventions available for transgender individuals.