Lord Carlile of Berriewasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any plan to introduce statutory provisions to improve the rights of transsexual people generally: and whether they will introduce legislation specifically to enable them to acquire replacement birth certificates and to marry; and [HL1983]
In the light of the interdepartmental report on transsexual people, what proposals they have to assist such people to live openly and with appropriate official documentation in their postoperative gender. [HL1985]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)Issues of concern to transsexual people (such as the replacement of birth certificates, the right to marry, inheritance provision and pension rights) are the policy leads of a number of government departments and were considered by the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People. The Government are sympathetic to the issues raised in the report and are considering how to take the matter forward.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will put the issues contained in the report of the interdepartmental working group of April 2000 on transsexual people out to public consultation, as recommended by the working group and by the Court of Appeal in its judgment of 17 April 2001 in Bellinger v. Bellinger. [HL2501]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe report of the interdepartmental working group on transsexual people has been publicly available since July 2000. It was posted on the Internet, and copies were placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Nearly 300 copies have been distributed, and the Home Office and, since June 2001 the Lord Chancellor's Department, have received over 120 responses and comments.
The Government are sympathetic to the issues raised in the report and are actively considering how to take the matter forward.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware that the transsexual's right to legal recognition has been to some extent achieved in at least 23 member states of the Council 122WA of Europe and that the only legal systems which do not recognise a change of gender are the United Kingdom, Ireland, Andorra and Albania. [HL2502]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Government are sympathetic to the issues of concern to transsexual people are under consideration within this department. The position of transsexual people in other countries will form part of that consideration.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will introduce legislation to provide for the equal treatment of transsexuals and effective remedies for unfair discrimination against transsexuals. [HL2503]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Government are sympathetic to issues of concern to transsexual people and these are under consideration within this department.