From House of Commons Hansard
Written Answers: 16th October 2007

Minister for Women & Equality

16 Oct 2007 : Column 950W

Gender: Equality

Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what plans she has to protect transgender people from discrimination, beyond those who have had, or seek, gender reassignment; and if she will make a statement. [157756]

16 Oct 2007 : Column 951W

Barbara Follett: The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 provides protection from discrimination to people who intend to undergo, are undergoing or have undergone gender reassignment in the area of employment and vocational training. Our recent consultation “A Framework for Fairness” set out our proposals for implementing the EU Gender Directive and for a single Equality Bill, including proposals to extend the current protection on grounds of gender reassignment to the area of goods, facilities, services, premises and public functions. We have received a wealth of representations on the issue of widening the group of people protected under these provisions and are continuing to consider carefully people’s views and the range of evidence that has been provided.