For MPs
Here are all the Sex Matters briefings for MPs. You may also want to look at our updates, publications and external resources on the legal system.
To be added to our MPs mailing list or to request information, email Laura Pascal, our head of public affairs, at [email protected]
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Data Bill – briefing for House of Lords debate on 12th May 2025
Following the recent Supreme Court judgment which has confirmed the importance of biological sex as a characteristic in life...
12th May 2025
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Data Bill: amendment NC21 – briefing for Parliamentarians
Report stage – House of Commons 7th May 2025 Large-print version of this briefing.
5th May 2025
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For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers UK Supreme Court judgment – Parliamentary briefing
This briefing sets out some actions the government should take. It will help MPs and peers to ask the...
22nd April 2025
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Gender-recognition certificates (GRCs): the facts
As background information for the Supreme Court judgment on For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers on 16th April...
14th April 2025
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The Sullivan Review and the Data Bill – Parliamentary briefing
The Review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender was published by the Department for Science, Innovation...
20th March 2025
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Data (Use and Access) Bill: going to the Commons – Parliamentary briefing
The government’s Data (Use and Access) Bill will soon be moving to the House of Commons, with the second...
7th February 2025
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Data (Use and Access) Bill: Lords report stage – Parliamentary briefing
The government’s Data (Use and Access) Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 23rd October 2024. Report...
21st January 2025
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Can the Civil Service return to impartiality? – a briefing for MPs
In December 2024 the DCMS and DSIT paid £116,749 to settle the employment-tribunal claim of whistleblowing civil servant Eleanor...
20th January 2025
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Single-sex provision for NHS staff and patients – briefing for Peers on Lords oral question
This covers the oral question from Baroness Fox on Wednesday 8th January 2025 at 11.30am in the chamber. Large-print...
9th January 2025
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The For Women Scotland case at the Supreme Court
A one-page summary of what the case is about, why it matters, and what the possible outcomes are. Download...
18th December 2024
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Summary report: Sex and the Data Bill – beware of building digital identities on sand
The government’s new trust framework for digital verification services has a critical flaw: government data itself is not trustworthy...
6th December 2024
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British Transport Police transgender search policy – briefing for MPs
A one-page summary of the reasoning behind Sex Matters’ pre-action letter to the British Transport Police challenging its new Transgender Search...
25th November 2024
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Sex and the Data Bill – briefing for Parliamentarians
18th November 2024 The second reading of the Data (Use and Access) Bill in the House of Lords is...
18th November 2024
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Briefing on our intervention to the Supreme Court on the definition of sex
This six-page briefing looks at our key arguments why “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 should be construed as...
23rd October 2024
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Amending the Equality Act 2010 to protect women’s rights – technical briefing for MPs
A one-page overview followed by detailed analysis of the underlying legal issues and a simple legislative solution. Large-print version...
6th September 2024
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Stand up for single-sex services – why it’s time to make the Equality Act clear
Women and girls depend on female-only services, spaces, sports and associations for privacy, dignity, fairness and safety. The Equality...
29th August 2024
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The problem of male inclusion in women’s sport
A three-page briefing explaining what’s going on in Olympic boxing and the background information you need. Large-print version of...
5th August 2024
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Briefing on sport and DSDs (disorders of sex development)
A one-page briefing on male sporting advantage and why DSDs matter in sport. Large-print version of this briefing. See...
1st August 2024
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Puberty blockers FAQs
Briefing for MPs and peers, July 2024. A two-page summary of the most frequently asked questions about puberty-suppressing drugs....
25th July 2024
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Puberty blockers – a briefing for MPs
We explain the background to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s decision to end the use...
23rd July 2024
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Briefing on new poll on sex and gender
The law on sex and gender: what policies do the public want? Results of Sex Matters poll.
1st July 2024
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Applying for a gender-recognition certificate: the facts
Is the process “intrusive, outdated and humiliating”? This briefing examines the evidence.
28th June 2024
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Make the Equality Act clear – PPC briefing
Briefing for prospective parliamentary candidates, 3rd June 2024, after the Conservative party announced it would include this in its...
3rd June 2024
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Gender-distressed youth and suicide risk – factsheet
The possibility of suicide can be a concern for parents with a child experiencing distress about their sex, and...
10th May 2024
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Who can play women’s football in England?
Briefing for parliamentarians from Sex Matters, April 2024. Includes details of current FA and FIFA policies on the inclusion...
22nd April 2024
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The Cass Review – initial analysis
The Cass Review of gender-identity services for children and young people has published its final report and recommendations. Sex...
10th April 2024
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Health and Equality Acts (Amendment) Bill – briefing
This private member’s bill‘s second reading is on the House of Commons agenda for the morning of Friday 15th...
14th March 2024
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Conversion therapy and the Cooper report – parliamentary briefing
See also our more detailed parliamentary briefing on conversion therapy.
9th February 2024
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Conversion therapy: understanding the GALOP survey – parliamentary briefing
See also our more detailed parliamentary briefing on conversion therapy.
9th February 2024
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Parliamentary briefing: conversion therapy
A detailed briefing on the issues. See also our short briefings on conversion therapy and the Cooper report and...
9th February 2024
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Briefing on report Women’s services: a sector silenced
Large-print version of this briefing. For the Westminster meeting on 17th January 2024, a briefing on our report on...
16th January 2024
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Sex and the law in December 2023 – a briefing
Briefing from Sex Matters for a meeting of the Women and Equalities Committee on 13th December 2023
12th December 2023