Hi - not a Transwidow - just wondering if any of you can make sense of this:
Women and Equalities Committee
Oral evidence: Work of the Minister for Equalities on LGBT+ matters, HC 545
Wednesday 6 July 2022
Ordered by the House of Commons to be published on 6 July 2022.
Watch the meeting
www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/14a25c60-cdff-4501-9439-09eeedb888d2
Members present:
Kate Osborne (Chair);
Elliott Colburn;
Jackie Doyle-Price;
Carolyn Harris
and Caroline Dinenage.
Questions 1 - 44
Witnesses
Mike Freer MP, Minister for Equalities and Equality Hub at Government
Equalities Office;
Anna Thompson, Deputy Director LGBT domestic policy,
International and Communications, Equality Hub at Government Equalities Office
and
Marcus Bell, Director, Equality Hub at Government Equalities Office.
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Q18 Eric Colburn: Going over some of the more day-to-day issues, Minister,
in the Westminster Hall debate we had on GRA reform there were two
commitments made at the Dispatch Box—to remove disorder from the
GRA and remove the spousal veto. Could you update us on the progress
of those two commitments?
Mike Freer: I might let the officials answer so I do not get that wrong
again, but I am not sure where we are up to on the relevant Act
regarding divorces.
Anna Thompson: It is enforced now, and that Act enables no-fault
divorces to happen more smoothly, so it is not a question of changing
any provision in the Gender Recognition Act; it is more that the Divorce
Act should facilitate a process where both partners in a relationship, in a
marriage, or a civil partnership, are not happy for the relationship to
continue after transition.
Mike Freer: The ability of a partner to block it has been reduced—before
I get told off for using the wrong terminology.
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See also, although of more general interest:
Q19 Elliott Colburn: And the progress on removing disorder from the GRA?
Anna Thompson: That is work we continue to plan to do; it is fair to say
that we have not yet started.
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committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/10567/pdf/