Written questions by Heylings.

When she plans to lay before parliament the revised Equality and Human Rights Commission Equality Act 2010: Statutory Code of Practice on Service, Public Functions and Associations.

I refer the Hon Member to Lord Collins’ answer to Lord Rooker’s oral question in the House of Lords, dated 2 February 2026, which provides the information you requested. “The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations provides guidance on all protected characteristics, not solely on sex and gender reassignment. The EHRC has submitted its draft Code to Ministers, and we are reviewing it with the care it deserves. It is crucial that providers have legally robust guidance on how to apply the Equality Act, which is why we are considering the draft Code properly.”

What progress her Department has made on completing an equalities impact assessment of the revised Equality and Human Rights Commission Equality Act 2010: Statutory Code of Practice on Services, Public Functions and Associations.

The EHRC revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following its consultation after the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland, and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities. The Government is considering the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Secretary of State will lay it before Parliament. Parliament will then have a 40 day period to consider the draft Code. It is important that the correct process for considering the Code is followed to ensure the Secretary of State can make an informed decision.

What steps she plans to take to allow for the provision of parliamentary scrutiny of the revised draft Equality and Human Rights Commission code of practice.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has submitted the draft updated Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations to the Minister for Women and Equalities. The Government is considering the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Minister will lay it before Parliament. Parliament will then have 40 sitting days to consider the Code, as per the process set out in Section 14 of the Equality Act 2006.

If she will seek information from the EHRC on which (a) people and (b) organisations were consulted before the issue of the EHRC interim guidance on the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent of the government. It is for the EHRC to ensure that any consultation process is appropriate and meaningfully engages with varied stakeholders.The EHRC’s interim update provides a perspective on how the judgment and Equality Act are practically applied in some areas. It is a snapshot reflection, rather than full guidance. The EHRC has already committed to supporting service providers with its updated statutory Code of Practice; we will engage them as necessary as they progress this work.

Whether the Government has a definition of biological sex for (a) people with Turner Syndrome, (b) people with Klinefelter syndrome, (c) people with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, (d) people with Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, (e) people with Swyer syndrome and (f) people with tetragametic chimerism.

The Government understands people with those conditions to have Variations in Sex Characteristics, but we do not hold central definitions of the biological sex of people who have these conditions, nor do we keep any records.

What assessment the Government has made of the impact of the (a) Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025 and (b) interim EHRC guidance on that ruling on people who are intersex.

The Government has set out our expectation that organisations follow the clarity the ruling provides. The EHRC’s interim update provides a perspective on how the judgment and Equality Act are practically applied in some areas. The EHRC has already committed to supporting service providers with its updated statutory Code of Practice following consultation; we will engage them as necessary as they progress this work.

If she will ask the EHRC to publish their full plans for consulting (a) the transgender community and (b) people who are intersex before publishing their full guidance in response to the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent of government. It is for the EHRC to ensure that the consultation process is appropriate and meaningfully engages with varied stakeholders.The Government expects them to do this widely and broadly, listening to diverse voices.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on equal access to fertility treatment for same sex couples.

We want everyone to have fair access to high quality care, which is respectful, inclusive and supports choice, control, and independence. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) sets out clinical guidelines for the provision of IVF services. NICE is currently reviewing its guidelines. In the light of broader pressures on the NHS and on-going changes within NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care is looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to services and fairness for all affected couples.

Whether she is taking steps to ban conversion practices.

This Government’s position is that conversion practices are abuse. Such practices have no place in society and must be stopped. In the King’s Speech, the Government committed to bring forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices.Previous administrations failed to deliver on this issue and allowed the debate to become ever more toxic and divided.We are committed to bringing forward legislation to finally ban these abusive practices, starting with publishing our draft Bill later this session.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the (a) experiences and (b) needs of LGBTQ+ elders in social care.

We want everyone to have fair access to high quality care, which is respectful, inclusive and supports choice, control, and independence. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) sets out clinical guidelines for the provision of IVF services. NICE is currently reviewing its guidelines. In the light of broader pressures on the NHS and on-going changes within NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care is looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to services and fairness for all affected couples.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s proposed revisions to its Code of Practice on the Equality Act in relation to single-sex spaces; and if she will hold discussions with representatives of the transgender community on this matter.

The EHRC recently concluded their consultation on the draft updated Code of Practice where they sought a wide range of views. The Government will consider the EHRC's final draft Code once submitted, ensuring that it clarifies the Equality Act’s single-sex exceptions which we have committed to uphold. The Office for Equality and Opportunity listens to a wide range of stakeholders’ diverse perspectives as it carries out its policy work.