Written questions by Jardine.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of allegedly transphobic rhetoric in the media in the last 12 months.

The Government is clear that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, and that there is no place for harassment or abuse directed at any group, including trans people. A free and independent media is a cornerstone of our democracy. To protect this freedom the media has editorial independence from Government and this means that the Government does not intervene in what the media publishes, provided it is within the law. However, there are established frameworks in place to uphold standards, including independent press regulators and broadcasting rules overseen by Ofcom. We remain mindful of the importance of ensuring that public debate is conducted responsibly and does not contribute to hostility or harm.

If she will take legislative steps to recognise non-binary identities.

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK is a welcoming place for all people, regardless of their background or identity, and where they are able to pursue their goals and ambitions without fear of discrimination.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd (Appellant) v The Scottish Ministers (Respondent) [2025] UKSC 16 on political parties’ use of all-women shortlists.

The Supreme Court Judgment was clear that for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, biological sex determines whether a person is a woman or not. Accordingly, in relation to the Equality Act 2010’s provisions allowing political parties to use all-women shortlists to increase the number of women standing for election, parties will need to have regard to the recent ruling. A political party wishing to use these Equality Act provisions will need to be satisfied that any such shortlists are lawful.