§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the planned timetable for the drawing up of guidelines and consultation on the treatment of transsexual prisoners; what consultation is planned with non-convicted transsexual persons; who is to be responsible for drawing up of the guidelines; and if the guidelines will cover prisoners on remand; [69230]
(2) what guidelines are provided to prison service clinicians in respect of the treatment of transsexual prisoners. [69231]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Prison Service's Directorate of Health care is currently drawing up guidelines for the care, management and treatment of prisoners with gender dysphoria. The Directorate expects to begin consultation on a second draft of these guidelines 89W shortly and will set a timetable for their completion and issue in the light of the outcome. The Parliamentary Forum on Transsexualism and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, both of which have previously contributed to the development of these guidelines, will be amongst those invited to comment on the second draft. The guidelines, which will refer to both convicted and unconvicted prisoners, will supersede the current arrangements whereby prison staff seek advice from the Directorate of Health Care as required.