My Lords, I want to ask the Minister a brief question. The contention is that there is a tension between the NHS England guidance on single-sex wards, which is eminently sensible, and Annex B. I would be grateful if the Minister could respond on that specifically. In particular, he knows that under Schedule 3 to the Equality Act, on single-sex services, to which the noble Lord referred, it is permissible for the NHS to provide separate accommodation for women who are biological females. But my reading of Annex B is that it excludes that option. Again, I ask the Minister for the Government’s view on this.
My main reason for intervening is to say this. Surely there is a case now for a government review of the guidance. The Minister will know that the Equality and Human Rights Commission will shortly be updating its guidance on single-sex services. Clearly, it would be very sensible to review the NHS guidance in the light of that. An assurance that this will happen would be very appropriate.
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