Every parliamentary written question tabled by Rebecca Paul this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–16 of 16 · Women and Equalities
How many (a) contacts and (b) unique individuals used the Government-funded conversion practice Victim Support Service in each financial year since 2022-23; and how many of those individuals reported that they had (i) experienced, (ii) been offered and (iii) been at risk of conversion practices.
Awaiting answer.
How many contacts with the Government-funded conversion practice Victim Support Service in each financial year since 2022-23 were made by (a) telephone, (b) email, (c) webchat and (d) other means; and how many were (i) repeat contacts and (ii) contacts made by (A) professionals and (B) third parties.
Awaiting answer.
If she will provide a breakdown of the information that her Department holds on the number of people experiencing conversion practices annually by (a) sex, (b) age, (c) sexual orientation, (d) transgender status, (e) ethnicity, (f) religion or belief, (g) disability and (h) region.
Awaiting answer.
What forms of conduct that the Government intends to criminalise through the draft Conversion Practices Bill are not already capable of being prosecuted under existing law; and how many cases have been identified since 2018 in which action could not be taken solely because no existing offence applied.
Awaiting answer.
How much has been paid to Galop for the provision of the conversion practice Victim Support Service in each financial year since 2022-23; what demand and service-user assumptions were included in the original contract; and what performance has been recorded against each contractual key performance indicator.
Awaiting answer.
What demographic information has been collected on users of the Government-funded conversion practice Victim Support Service; and if she will publish anonymised annual breakdowns by (a) sex, (b) age, (c) sexual orientation, (d) transgender status, (e) ethnicity, (f) religion or belief, (g) disability, (h) region and (i) nationality or immigration status.
Awaiting answer.
How many users of the Government-funded conversion practice Victim Support Service have been referred to (a) the police, (b) local authority safeguarding services, (c) social services, (d) healthcare services, (e) housing services and (f) legal services in each year since 2022; and what information her Department holds on the outcomes of those referrals.
Awaiting answer.
What external legal advice has she sought on the revised Code of practice for services, public functions and associations, submitted to her for approval on 5 September 2025.
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 on 4 September 2025.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 over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.
How much she has spent on legal advice pertaining to the revised Code of practice for 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 on 4 September 2025.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 over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.
If she will list the meetings between his Department, including the Office for Equality and Opportunity, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission on the implications of the For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers Supreme Court ruling since 16 April 2025.
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 on 4 September 2025.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 over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.
What discussions her Department has had with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on the revised Code of practice for services, public functions and associations, submitted to the Minister for Women and Equalities for approval on 5 September 2025.
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 on 4 September 2025.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 over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.
Whether her Department has submitted any proposed amendments to the revised Code of practice for services, public functions and associations to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
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 on 4 September 2025.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 over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.
Which external organisations or groups her Department has engaged or consulted with on the draft Code of Practice for 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 on 4 September 2025.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 over a 40 day period.As set out in Equality Act 2006, the EHRC operates independently of the Government and is responsible for drafting and consulting on the Code. The Secretary of State is following the process in the Equality Act 2006 and is consulting the Welsh and Scottish Ministers at the relevant stages, as required under section 14(9).The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We have always been clear that there is a due process that needs to be followed by all. Our priority is getting this right. We will continue to work with the EHRC to ensure Ministers are able to make a fully informed decision.
How many full-time equivalent staff are currently assigned primarily to policy work relating to transgender matters within the Office for Equality and Opportunity.
The Office for Equality and Opportunity has responsibility for a range of equalities matters. The specific number of staff allocated to work on any particular issue is based on resource need at any one time.
How much how her Department spent on external legal advice primarily relating to transgender equality policy since 16 April 2025.
Expenditure on external legal advice is recorded by the Department in line with standard accounting practices. Since 16 April 2025, the Office for Equality and Opportunity has incurred costs for legal advice on a range of policy matters, including the Equality Act 2010.
What responsibilities she has for (a) potential reform of gender recognition laws and (b) banning of conversion practices.
Alongside Bridget Phillipson as Secretary of State with responsibility for Women and Equalities, my department has responsibility for the Government’s equality policy, including on LGBT+ issues.Conversion practices are acts that aim to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Such practices are abuse. They have no place in society and must be stopped. Through the development of the Conversion Practices Bill, this Government will deliver our manifesto commitment to bring forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on these harmful practices.We will also modernise, simplify, and reform the intrusive and outdated gender recognition law to a new process. We will remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition and acceptance; whilst retaining the need for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria from a specialist doctor, enabling access to the healthcare pathway.