Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Care Quality Commission regarding reports about its inquiry into the activities of the Gender Plus organisation, given the interim findings of the Cass Review and the use of puberty blockers and hormones for children and young people with gender identity issues.

The Department has regular discussions with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) about a variety of topics, including but not limited to issues regarding gender identity services.

As an independent regulator, it is for the CQC to determine whether a private organisation is carrying out a regulated activity and whether any investigation is warranted. It is a legal requirement to register with the CQC if a provider is carrying out regulated activities, and the CQC has the power to investigate whether providers are doing this.