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Armed Forces: Gender

Asked by Dr Andrew MurrisonConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 14 May 2025UIN 47174

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to implement the ruling on For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025 in the armed forces.

Answered by Al Carns

16 April 2025 saw the Supreme Court ruling that sex is to be understood as biological sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. Updated Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance will be available in due course, and we’ll consider how this affects our policies when the detail is shared.

Our priority is to ensure that all our people in Defence have the support and facilities they need.

The Government remains committed to dignity and respect for all, and this has been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court.

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