Chamber and committees

I do not have any evidence to suggest that it would not be irreversible, so I could not dispute that. What part of the bill would put someone on the path of accessing puberty blockers?

Thank you. Can people who are currently in your care make statutory declarations?

I would appreciate that. We know that you are currently reviewing the policy. Thank you for setting that out in such detail.

Throughout the course of our evidence, but last week in particular, we have heard about some undesirable circumstances that have arisen in prisons elsewhere in the UK. Are you able to say why that has happened elsewhere? We have not heard that there are similar circumstances in Scotland. If there are, it would be good to hear about those. Why is the position in the Ministry of Justice different from what is happening in Scotland just now?

Good afternoon to the panel. Thank you for your answers to the questions so far and for the information that you submitted in advance, both of which have been really helpful. I have a couple of follow-on points from what we have heard.

Some of you have said that the reflection period is remarkably short for a decision of such magnitude—I think that that is specifically how it was put. However, we have heard a lot from LGBT people about how applying for a gender recognition certificate is usually the end, rather than the beginning, of a process for them, and that they will have been thinking about it for a significant period of time, so much so that I think that Denmark—Chris Ringland gave it as an example—is one of the countries considering no longer having that period. I will be corrected on the record if I am wrong on that, but I think that Denmark is one of those countries.

What is your response to LGBT people who say that applying for a GRC is the end of the process and that they have already spent a lot of time thinking about whether they want to change their gender?

Do other panel members have any comments on the time period?

I share your concerns about the suicide rates. The poor health outcomes for trans people across Scotland and the United Kingdom in general are a concern for us all. I do not know that the bill is the place to address that. Can you see any other routes to addressing that, so that we can work with those who are not captured by the current process, such as those who are not gender dysphoric? Is there another way to make both work together?

Thank you.

Karen Hendry, your opening comments were really powerful, particularly in relation to the impact on women and the Integrity group of people that you described. We have heard in previous discussions, and also today, some worries around bad actors. You were strong in your view on that. Can you tell us how you reached that view and what you think of the issue of bad-faith actors in relation to the bill?

Thank you, that is very helpful. If no one else has any further points on that, I have one last question.

In your submissions, you commented on parts of the bill affecting reassignment surgery or irreversible interventions. Can you tell us a bit more about what you mean by that and how you came to those conclusions?

Yes, we will come to the other witnesses shortly.

I should have asked this when I had my turn a minute ago, but the question has just occurred to me, so forgive me for going back to what I already asked about.

Do you expect the information that you give out on the consequences of a gender recognition certificate to change significantly if the legislation is passed, or would it continue to be the same kind of information that you give out on the effect of a GRC now?

Thank you. Could you characterise for us the experience of trans people living in prison? I appreciate that the numbers are very small. Can you describe their experience and the experience of other women who are sharing the prison estate with trans people? How is that going so far?