Fifth special report - Reform of the Gender Recognition Act: Government response to the Committee’s Third Report

This is the government's response, published 24 March 2022.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government states that its September 2020 position on the Gender Recognition Act "is right and appropriate" and that it will not change the legislation, while pointing to administrative improvements such as the fee cut and digitisation.

• On the diagnosis of gender dysphoria, the government declines to remove it, saying the requirements ensure the process is "rigorous", but says it will amend the reference to a "disorder" via a remedial order "in due course".
• It does not consider it necessary to change the statutory declaration, and considers it "equitable" for spousal consent to remain, as it is a safeguard for the non-transitioning spouse.
• It says the digital application process is in testing and "will be operational by summer 2022", and that applicants can still use the paper process if they prefer.
• It does not consider a formal healthcare strategy for transgender and non-binary people necessary, while DHSC says it is "happy to provide the Committee with annual updates" on the pilot clinics' progress and waiting times.

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