§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Minister for Women what her policy is on including the treatment of transsexuals who are now women within her Department's work. [87277]
§ Ms HewittThe treatment of transsexual people under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 is already part of the Department of Trade and Industry's responsibilities. The Sex Discrimination Act (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999 amended the 1975 Act to protect people intending to undergo, undergoing, or who have undergone gender reassignment from discrimination at work and in vocational training.
The part of the Department with responsibility for these Regulations is the Women and Equality Unit. The wider issue of the legal status of transsexual people is the lead responsibility of the Lord Chancellor's Department.