From House of Commons Hansard
Written Answers: 26th March 2006

Department for Constitutional Affairs

26 Mar 2007 : Column 1267W

Gender Recognition Act 2004

Lynne Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether criminal actions under section 22 of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 can be pursued for any period, so long as evidence still exists. [129399]

Vera Baird: No. Disclosure of protected information under section 22 of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 is a summary offence. The relevant time limit is set out in section 127 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980. Under that section, a court can only deal with an alleged offence if a complaint or information is submitted to the relevant authorities within six months of the event that gave rise to it.

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