How to submit evidence on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
The Scottish Parliament Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice (EHRCJ) Committee is currently inviting written submissions on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.
The deadline is Monday 16 May and evidence must be submitted via the Scottish Parliament’s online platform.
Submit a short survey or a detailed submission
You can either complete a short survey on the general principles of the Bill or share your detailed views on specific provisions of the Bill. You can only submit evidence via the online platform. If you require assistance to share your views this way ‘for accessibility reasons’, you should contact the committee clerk:
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
0131 348 5000
GRRBill@parliament.scot
For both types of submission you can start the survey and save it without sending if you want to return to it later.
It is also important that you read the privacy policy which sets out how you can request that your submission is either confidential or anonymised. We suggest that you contact the committee clerk (see above) before submitting a response if you want to do this.
Both processes are outlined below, followed by some relevant links that could be used in responding to the call for evidence. We will also continue to publish material in the run up to the deadline. We will share details of our own submission in due course, but note this may not be ahead of the final deadline.
Short survey
The short survey consists of eight questions with simple ‘yes/no/don’t know’ answers. There is also a comment box at the bottom for free text.
The eight questions are shown below.
Once you have answered the questions and pressed ‘continue’, you will see a page which asks you to confirm your email address before you submit your response. Alternatively, you can save your answers to return to at a later time.
Detailed submission
When submitting more detailed views, you will be asked whether you are making a submission as an individual or an organisation. As with the short survey, you can begin your response and then save it to come back to it later before finally submitting it.
If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, you will be asked to provide some background details about your organisation.
You will then be invited to share your thoughts in free text boxes in response to the following:
The removal of the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and supporting medical evidence.
Provisions enabling applicants to make a statutory declaration that they have lived in the acquired gender for a minimum of three months (rather than the current period of two years) and that they intend to live permanently in their acquired gender.
Whether applications should be made to the Registrar General for Scotland instead of the Gender Recognition Panel, a UK Tribunal.
Proposals that applications are to be determined by the Registrar General after a further period of reflection of at least three months.
Whether the minimum age for applicants for obtaining a GRC should be reduced from 18 to 16. If you have any comments on the provisions for interim GRCs.
The removal of the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and supporting medical evidence.
Provisions enabling applicants to make a statutory declaration that they have lived in the acquired gender for a minimum of three months (rather than the current period of two years) and that they intend to live permanently in their acquired gender.
Whether applications should be made to the Registrar General for Scotland instead of the Gender Recognition Panel, a UK Tribunal.
Proposals that applications are to be determined by the Registrar General after a further period of reflection of at least three months.
Whether the minimum age for applicants for obtaining a GRC should be reduced from 18 to 16.
If you have any comments on the provisions for interim GRCs.
If you have any comments on the provisions for confirmatory GRCs for applicants who have overseas gender recognition.
If you have any comments on the offences of knowingly making a false application or including false information.
If you have any comments on the removal of powers to introduce a fee.
If the Bill’s intended policy outcomes could be delivered through other means such as using existing legislation or in another way.
If you have any suggestions for how this Bill could be amended. If so, please provide details.
Any other comments on the Bill.
Once you have completed your responses, you will see this screen, at which point, you can submit your response to the committee.
