Clause 26 - Commencement
Gender Recognition Bill [Lords]
4:30 pm
Mr David Lammy (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs; Tottenham, Labour)
As I have said, the Government will shortly introduce legislation on same-sex civil partnership. Legislation on civil partnership will provide same-sex couples with an opportunity to gain legal recognition for their relationships. However, the amendment would halt implementation of the Gender Recognition Bill until the civil partnerships Bill has been implemented. I am grateful for the manner in which the hon. Member for Daventry moved the amendment, but the Government can see no good reason to delay access to recognition in the acquired gender, especially as the vast majority of transsexual people are unmarried—only about 2 to 4 per cent. of the transsexual community are married.
I also emphasise that, should the Gender Recognition Bill come into force before civil partnership legislation, it will be for the married transsexual person to decide whether to wait for the implementation of the civil partnership legislation, or to seek gender recognition as soon as the gender recognition panels are in place. One assumes that that decision would be made in discussion with the spouse, especially if the parties intend the relationship to continue. The application for gender recognition may be deferred until the option to form a civil partnership
can be considered. It is important to emphasise that they—the couple—are in control of the process. The Government have extended the fast-track process in clause 27 to two years, so married transsexual people will not lose out on using that process either.
With that explanation, I hope that the hon. Gentleman will withdraw his amendment.