Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)

I welcome you back to the Chair, Mrs. Roe. I was just setting out the fact that three time periods are involved in the legislation relating to an interim certificate. The third is that between the ending of a marriage by the death of the person's spouse or by dissolution or annulment other than on the ground mentioned in subsection (1), which relates to the decree of nullity based on the interim gender recognition certificate having been issued, and the seeking of a full gender recognition certificate.

My amendments, along with amendments Nos. 69 and 52, on which I might offer support, although perhaps not to both, would ensure that there are no time limits in any event other than the first. No one is arguing that there should not be some time limit for granting the decree of nullity on the ground that an interim gender recognition certificate has been issued—otherwise, a sword of Damocles would hang over the marriage.

My amendments, however, support the argument that, thereafter, there is no reason why the person with the interim gender recognition certificate, even though none of the human rights of recognition go with it, should be under a time limit. Since there are no rights accorded, no damage would be done to the Government in extending the period for which someone could hold the certificate.

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