Written question asked by Lady Hermon (Ulster Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 26 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 June 2004. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Monday, 7 June 2004 on behalf of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Dept for Constitutional Affairs

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, for what reasons the provisions of the Gender Recognition Bill were extended to Northern Ireland by primary legislation rather than by way of Order in Council; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Lady Hermon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs for what reasons the provisions of the Gender Recognition Bill were extended to Northern Ireland by primary legislation rather than by way of Order in Council; and if he will make a statement. [176960] Mr. Lammy: The Government are of the view that transsexual people across the UK should be entitled to apply for legal recognition in their acquired gender. The judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in Goodwin v. the UK and "I" v. the UK require nothing less. In view of this the Government decided that a UK- wide approach to legislating in this area was appropriate, and the Government consulted widely in the Province, as in the rest of the UK, before legislating.

Secondary information