From House of Commons Hansard
Written Answers: 6th June 2006

Home Office

6 Jun 2006 : Column 603W

Prisoners (Gender Realignment)

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of prisoners undergoing gender re-alignment procedures in each prison establishment for each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [74028]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Information is not collected centrally on the number of prisoners in London prisons undergoing gender reassignment. No estimate has been made on the cost of these procedures in prisons nationally.

It is the aim of this Government that prisoners should have access to health care that is broadly comparable to that enjoyed by the rest of the community. Gender dysphoria is a recognised medical condition. Therefore, if medical treatment for it is recommended by a national health service gender dysphoria specialist for a person in prison custody, such treatment, up to and including gender reassignment surgery, should be allowed to proceed. We are currently preparing guidelines on the management, treatment and care of prisoners with gender dysphoria.

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what national guidance is

6 Jun 2006 : Column 604W

available concerning gender re-alignment treatment within HM prison service; and if he will make a statement; [74029]

(2) how many prisoners detained within London prison establishments are undergoing gender re-alignment procedures. [74027]

Mr. Sutcliffe: Information is not collected centrally on the numbers of prisoners in London prisons undergoing gender reassignment.

It is the aim of this Government that prisoners should have access to health care that is broadly comparable to that enjoyed by the rest of the community. Gender dysphoria is a recognised medical condition. Therefore, if medical treatment for it is recommended by a national health service gender dysphoria specialist for a person in prison custody, such treatment, up to and including gender reassignment surgery, should be allowed to proceed.

We are currently preparing guidelines on the management, treatment and care of prisoners with gender dysphoria.

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what national guidance is available concerning the use of strip search procedures for those prisoners undergoing gender re-alignment treatment within HM prison service establishments; and if he will make a statement. [74030]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The prison service national security framework document contains policy and guidelines concerning strip-searches, now termed full searches, of prisoners. This includes specific policy and guidelines for full searches of prisoners who are undergoing gender reassignment.

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