Several constituents have been in touch to raise concerns about the Government's support for a new research study that will see up to 226 children under the age of 16 being given puberty blockers to examine the impact on their physical and mental health.
In her 2024 review, Baroness Hilary Cass was clear about the lack of evidence on the long-term effects of children and young people using puberty blockers. I welcome that the Government has made the ban on puberty blockers permanent, following the temporary ban that was introduced before the General Election, and that Ministers have followed the policy direction of implementing the Cass Review’s recommendations to improve services for children living with gender dysphoria. This has included establishing new gender identity services across England.
However, I share the concerns of my colleagues, the Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch, and the Shadow Health Secretary, Stuart Andrew, about the Government’s support for the new research study, and have added my signature to the letter sent by the Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Health Secretary to the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, clearly stating our opposition to the Government's puberty blocker trial.
