To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


View sample alert

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Gender Recognition
Monday 29th January 2024

Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will reform the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to allow transgender people who are deceased to be legally remembered by the gender they lived by.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

We recognise the sensitivity of these situations, particularly when family and friends are dealing with the loss of a loved one. The Gender Recognition Act (GRA) 2004 provides for people to change their legal gender. Those who have undergone this process and acquired a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) before the time of their death will, of course, be recognised in their new gender.

Without undergoing the process of legal gender recognition and acquiring a GRC under the provisions laid out in the GRA 2004, a person has not legally changed gender. Therefore they would not be recognised in their new gender upon the unfortunate event of their death. That said, where a person was using their new gender with an organisation prior to their death, and that was on their personal records, then we anticipate that the organisation would engage with their family members using the new gender. These organisations could include the NHS, their place of work or community groups.

We recognise that everyone who decides to undergo a change in how their legal sex is recorded deserves our respect, support and compassion throughout the process. The process does not currently allow for third party applications, such as posthumous applications on behalf of a deceased friend or relative, as any application will be a deeply personal undertaking and choice.

Following the GRA consultation and the subsequent changes we made to the application process, we have no plans to further amend the Act.


Written Question
Gender Recognition Certificates
Monday 8th January 2024

Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government how many people have acquired Gender Recognition Certificates using section 1(1)(b) of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 in each year since statistics were first reported in 2009.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

All statistics on the number of people acquiring Gender Recognition Certificates through the overseas route are published by HM Courts and Tribunals Service in their quarterly tribunal statistics release found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.

The information in the table below presents the successful outcomes of GRC applications under section 1(1)(b) of the Gender Recognition Act 2004. Please note the third column in answer to your question.

Outcomes of overseas route applications for a gender recognition certificate [1]

Financial Year

Total

Full GRC Granted

Interim GRC granted 2

Refused

Application Withdrawn

No Fee Paid

Error

Reopened

2009/10

9

6

-

2

1

-

-

..

2010/11

22

9

-

5

7

-

1

..

2011/12

13

8

-

4

1

-

-

..

2012/13

11

7

1

1

1

-

1

..

2013/14

17

12

-

2

3

-

-

..

2014/15

14

11

-

1

2

-

-

..

2015/16

12

7

-

2

3

-

-

..

2016/17

14

12

-

1

-

-

1

..

2017/18

33

23

-

7

1

1

1

..

2018/19

27

15

-

7

3

2

-

..

2019/20

27

23

-

2

2

-

-

..

2020/21

33

27

-

3

1

2

-

..

2021/22

33

30

-

2

-

-

1

-

2022/23

55

46

1

4

-

1

3

-

Source:Tribunal Statistics Quarterly (July to September 2023) Table GRP_3 Applications disposed of by the Gender Recognition Panel, by type of track and outcome, Q1 2009/10 to Q2 2023/24

To Note:

Full GRCs above relate only to those which are issued by the Panel.

[1] Details of which track to apply to can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-gender-recognition-certificate

[2] Interim certificates are issued to successful applicants who meet the criteria for gender recognition but are a) not eligible to remain married following gender recognition because they were married under the law of Northern Ireland, b) eligible but either they and/or spouse have decided not to remain married after issue of full GRC, c) in a protected civil partnership where only one partner has applied for gender recognition (or where both have applied but only one was successful) or d) in a civil partnership but one which is not a protected civil partnership. In these circumstances once the successful applicant has ended their marriage or civil partnership, they can be issued a full GRC.

Key:

.. Not available

- zero


Written Question
Gender Recognition
Friday 22nd December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the details of each meeting since 1 December 2021 between (1) the Minister for Women and Equalities, and (2) the Equality and Human Rights Commission, regarding possible amendments to the Gender Recognition Act 2004, including but not limited to meetings about the list of approved countries and territories which would be considered valid for applications under section 1(1)(b) of the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

In reference to discussions with EHRC with regards to the Countries list SI, I refer back to the previous answer to UIN 5635 on 14th December.

More broadly, as is the case with previous administrations, it is a long-established precedent that granular information about ministerial meetings is not disclosed. Equality Hub Ministers do however, engage regularly with the EHRC.


Written Question
Gender Recognition
Friday 22nd December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Minister for Women and Equalities on 6 December (HC Deb cols 359–60), which organisations she consulted about amending the list of approved countries and territories which would be considered valid for applications under section 1(1)(b) of the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

I refer back to the previous answer to UIN 5635 given on 14th December.


Written Question
Crimes of Violence: Transgender People
Wednesday 20th December 2023

Asked by: Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many people who have acquired Gender Recognition Certificates using section 1(1)(b) of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 have subsequently been arrested, charged or convicted in connection with any act of violent crime, including but not restricted to sexual offences.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales, by offence group including “violence against the person” and “sexual offences”, and by sex, as part of the Police Powers and Procedures statistical bulletin, available here: Police powers and procedures England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Home Office also collects and publishes data on charged/summonsed in England and Wales, by offence group including “violence against the person” and “sexual offences”, as part of the quarterly crime outcomes statistics, available here: Police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

However, data is not collected in either collection on whether the person holds a Gender Recognition Certificate.

The Home Office does not routinely collect data on criminal convictions. Information on criminal convictions, by offence group and sex, is collected and published by the Ministry of Justice in their Criminal justice statistics: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)


Written Question
Schools: Gender Recognition
Tuesday 19th December 2023

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure school children are provided with age-appropriate (a) discussions and (b) materials on gender self-identification.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

The Relationships and Sex and Health Education (RSHE) statutory guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.

It is for schools to make decisions about the content they teach and the materials they use when teaching RSHE. However, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has been concerned to hear reports of inappropriate materials being used in schools and that contested topics are being taught as fact. This is why the department has brought forward the first review of the RSHE statutory guidance, including appointing an independent panel to provide expert advice on what is appropriate to be taught in RSHE and at what age. Details of the independent review panel are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/relationships-health-and-sex-education-independent-review.

In March 2023, the Secretary of State for Education wrote to schools to remind them that copyright law does not prevent them sharing external resources with parents. In October 2023, she wrote again to clarify that any contractual clause that prevents schools from sharing materials is void and unenforceable, and to provide practical advice on how to share materials with parents in a way that is in line with copyright legislation. The department will ensure that the updated guidance fully reflects this very clear position. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/secretary-of-state-letter-to-schools-about-sharing-curriculum-resources-with-parents.

A draft of the amended guidance will be published for consultation, at the earliest opportunity, in the new year.


Written Question
Gender Recognition Certificates
Monday 18th December 2023

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she had discussions with her counterpart in the state of South Carolina before laying the Gender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023 on the removal of that US territory from the list of approved countries and territories to qualify applicants for the overseas route to apply for gender recognition certificates.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

I refer back to my previous answer to UIN 5635 on 14th December.


Written Question
Gender Recognition Certificates
Monday 18th December 2023

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she had discussions with her counterpart in the state of Rhode Island before laying the Gender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023 on the removal of that US territory from the list of approved countries and territories to qualify applicants for the overseas route to apply for gender recognition certificates.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

I refer back to my previous answer to UIN 5635 on 14th December.


Written Question
Gender Recognition Certificates
Monday 18th December 2023

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she had discussions with her counterpart in the state of South Dakota before laying the Gender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023 on the removal of that US territory from the list of approved countries and territories to qualify applicants for the overseas route to apply for gender recognition certificates.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

I refer back to my previous answer to UIN 5635 on 14th December.


Written Question
Gender Recognition Certificates
Monday 18th December 2023

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she had discussions with her counterpart in the state of Virginia before laying the Gender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023 on the removal of that US territory from the list of approved countries and territories to qualify applicants for the overseas route to apply for gender recognition certificates.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

I refer back to my previous answer to UIN 5635 on 14th December.