Doc 1- email exchanges of 14 and 15 April 2020
From: Tim Hopkins [ ]@equality-network.org
Sent: 15 April 2020 08:44
To: [redacted] [ ] @gov.scot
Cc: [redacted][ ] @gov.scot>; [redacted ] [ ]@gov.scot>; [redacted][ ]@gov.scot;[redacted] [ ]
@gov.scot
Subject: RE: Gender recognition consultation: analysis
Thanks for the update!
Tim
From: [redacted] [ ] @gov.scot>
Sent: 14 April 2020 20:11
To: Tim Hopkins <[ ]@equality-network.org>
Cc: [redacted][ ] @gov.scot; [ redacted ][ ]@gov.scot; [redacted][ ]@gov.scot;[redacted] [ ]
@gov.scot
Subject: Gender recognition consultation: analysis
Tim
Hi.
Following the statement by the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans in
Parliament about the impact of COVID-19 for the Scottish Government’s legislative
programme, you asked about the impact on the analysis of the consultation responses.
For the present, work on progressing the analysis has been halted. We had been
seeking to commission an independent analysis of the consultation responses and
tenders had been received. However, we have decided to close that competition for
the analysis without awarding the contract. Due to the COVID-19 situation, we are
aware that some tenderers may need to reconsider their own costs and contingencies
which may have altered since the original submission of the tenders. In addition, the
Scottish Government needs to focus at the moment on COVID-19 priorities.
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People advised in her letter dated
1 April to you and other LGBT groups following the statement that we will, when
resources allow, take forward the work of analysing the consultation responses. I
cannot give a timetable at this point, but the decision not to progress the analysis at
this stage will be kept under review.
All the best.
[redacted]
Family Law Policy
Scottish Government
[redacted]
Doc 2- Email dated 1 October 2020
From: Vic Valentine
Sent: 01 October 2020 17:21
To: [redacted] (EHRTS) ; [redacted] ; [redacted] ; [redacted]
Subject: FW: Letter from Scottish Trans re: trans community roundtable on September 17th 2020
Hi All,
Please see attached a letter that Oceana and I have just sent on behalf of al of the attendees at our
online roundtable for trans community members with the Minister for Older People and Equalities.
Al the best,
Vic
Vic Valentine
Policy Officer
Scottish Trans
30 Bernard Street
Edinburgh
EH6 6PR
Telephone: 0131 467 6039
www.scottishtrans.org
Scottish Trans project is part of the Equality Network
Donate to the Equality Network
Registered Scottish Charity: SC037852.
Company limited by guarantee: SC220213.
______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please visit http:/ www.symanteccloud.com
______________________________________________________________________
Document 4- Response dated 13 January 2021
Minister for Older People and Equalities
Christina McKelvie MSP
T: 0300 244 4000
E: xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxxx
Oceana Maund and Vic Valentine
Scottish Trans Alliance
30 Bernard Street
Edinburgh
EH6 6PR
By email: [redacted]@equality-
___
network.org [redacted]@equality-
network.org
13 January 2021
Dear Oceana and Vic,
Thank you for your correspondence of 1st October 2020 regarding a number of key issues
affecting the trans community, following on from our roundtable discussion on 17th
September 2020. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding. I have addressed
each of the important issues you have raised in turn below.
[Redacted- out of scope]
Scottish Ministers, special advisers and the Permanent Secretary are
covered by the terms of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016. See
www.lobbying.scot
St Andrews House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG
www.gov.scot
Gender Recognition Certificates
The Scottish Government continues to have a strong commitment to reform the
Gender Recognition Act 2004.
As you’ll no doubt be aware, to support our approach we have consulted twice, firstly on the
principles of reform and again on the draft Gender Recognition Bill, to alleviate concerns and
address any anxieties in relation to our proposals.
This consultation was published at the end of last year, alongside the draft Bill. We are
taking forward the work of analysing the responses to our consultation. This is with the
intention of publishing the analysis report prior to the dissolution of the Scottish Parliament in
advance of elections due to take place in May 2021.
Currently, under the Gender Recognition Act 2004, applicants must pay a non-refundable
fee of £140, unless they qualify for a fee remission or reduced fee. The UK
Government announced on 22 September that they will ‘reduce the fee from £140 to a
nominal amount’. You may wish to contact the UK Government Equalities Office for any
further details.
Sanctuary Buildings
16-20 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
United Kingdom
Email: xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
I hope this response has been helpful. I know that you have asked officials for a further
meeting with me later this month, and I look forward to speaking to you then.
Yours sincerely,
CHRISTINA MCKELVIE
Scottish Ministers, special advisers and the Permanent Secretary are
covered by the terms of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016. See
www.lobbying.scot
St Andrews House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG
www.gov.scot