Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to help ensure that people born male who are transitioning their gender cannot participate in female competitive sports.

As the UK sports councils concluded when they published transgender inclusion guidance for domestic sports last year, balancing transgender inclusion, safety and fairness at all times is not possible in every sport. When it comes to competitive sport, the government believes that fairness has to be the primary consideration. That is why in June 2022 the Culture Secretary convened a meeting of our domestic governing bodies to urge them to follow a policy that competitive women’s sport must be reserved for people born of the female sex. Sports governing bodies each have their own rules on transgender issues and it is appropriate that they can determine the right position for their own sport.

The Government is clear that a way forward is needed that protects and shows compassion to all athletes, whilst being clear that the integrity of competition must be maintained. We want to ensure that everybody in this country has the opportunity to play and enjoy sport.