My Lords, I thank noble Lords for the short but constructive debate on these amendments. I add my thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Patel, for his support on this issue.
My noble friend Lady Sugg asked about the other recommendations in the panel’s report. Of course, the amendments brought forward today satisfy many of the recommendations made in the final report, including: prohibiting the advertising of hymenoplasty; the inclusion of extraterritorial jurisdiction; ensuring that women will not be criminalised for undergoing hymenoplasty; and that there should be no defence or exemption for a healthcare professional or anyone to carry out hymenoplasty. The Government are carefully considering the panel’s remaining recommendations and will provide an update on this in due course.
There were also a number of questions about implementation. Guidance will be produced alongside these offences coming into force. It will make clear that hymenoplasty is a form of violence against women and girls and lay the framework for how it can be prevented and, when it has taken place, reported. While the details of the guidance are being carefully considered, I can say that it will focus on how the Government, local authorities, social services, the police, education providers and third-sector organisations and community groups can work together to effectively safeguard women and girls.
A number of other specific points were raised, such as whether the FCDO can learn from legislation relating to forced marriage and measures to spot girls who are at risk, the religious element which may feature within this, and UK-registered practitioners conducting these practices abroad. I suggest I write to noble Lords with further detail in response to those questions.