Schedule 1 - Gender recognition panels
Gender Recognition Bill [Lords]
2:30 pm
Mr Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire, Conservative)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Taylor, as I am sure other members of the Committee will agree.
I wish to respond briefly to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones), who said, if I remember correctly, that Dr. Reid was held in high regard in the transsexual community. I am well aware of that fact. Sadly, however, it appears that Dr. Reid may have been guilty of fast-tracking many transsexuals into gender reassignment surgery. Indeed, one individual who went to see him stated:
''Less than a month after I started living full-time as a woman, Dr. Reid recommended surgery.''
That balances the two sides of the matter and relates to my point about being absolutely sure that there is a proper process and proper medical advice. We may have to return to the matter on Report. However, in the light of what the Minister said, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.