Call for a clear timeline in response to Cass Review
THE First Minister has been urged to provide a “clear timeline” for a Scottish response to the Cass Review into children’s gender services in England. Holyrood’s education committee said this would reassure children, young people, parents and clinicians that the “significant issues” raised by Dr Hilary Cass will be “fully considered and acted upon in Scotland without delay”. The Cass Review’s final report said kids have been let down by a lack of research and evidence on the use of puberty blockers and hormones, in a debate it said has become exceptionally toxic. The committee’s letter comes after two Scottish health boards on Thursday paused the prescription of puberty blockers to new patients, a move welcomed by Scotland’s Health Secretary Neil Gray. In its letter to FM Humza yousaf, the education, children and young people committee said: “The recent publication of the Cass Review has brought to light significant concerns about the way trans, non-binary and gender-questioning children and young people access gender identity services in England, and the evidence that underpins current practices. “The committee recognises that there will undoubtedly be parallels between services in England and those currently provided to children and young people in Scotland.
“Clarity is required to how the Scottish Government intends to take forward the report’s findings in a Scottish context.”
The committee said it believes a comprehensive children’s rights and well-being impact assessment should be undertaken to ensure matters are explored fully, and that the rights of all children and young people across Scotland are safeguarded.
It added: “Further, the committee believes that a clear timeline should be provided for a Scottish response to the Cass Review.”
The Scottish Government has been asked to comment.