§ Baroness Jegerasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consultations have taken place with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Surgeons in connection with the prohibition of female circumcision, and what advice has been received.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Baroness Trumpington)I understand that the sponsors of the Prohibition of Female Circumcison Bill have kept these Royal Colleges informed about progress in the Bill and that neither has any objection to the Bill as currently drafted. In correspondence, the Royal College of Surgeons indicated that they would leave professional comment on the matter to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, whose advice they would support. The position of that Royal College is that they too seek to prohibit female circumcision of any kind being performed in this country and they approve of the Bill as currently drafted. They point out that there are some surgical operations that are necessary for the physical and mental health of women which have nothing whatsoever to do with circumcision performed for traditional or cultural reasons. The college would be opposed to any statutory limitations on these legitimate operations.