Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to discourage the sale of (1) puberty blockers, and (2) cross-sex hormones, over the internet to children who do not have (a) a prescription, or (b) parental permission.

We would expect all registered pharmacies and pharmacists to meet the regulatory standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland when considering dispensing any lawfully valid prescription. This includes puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.

The Department has agreed with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to investigate changes to regulations that would allow the CQC to take enforcement action against online healthcare providers.