Conversion therapy pledge

The Scottish Government is committed to moving forward with plans to ban conversion therapy, the health secretary has said.

Neil Gray added that the government will reflect on responses to a consultation on the issue, but that it is an “important piece of legislation”.

The consultation document outlined plans to ban the practice, which sees people attempt to change or suppress the gender identity or sexual orientation of another person.

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has said Mr Swinney must not water down the policies pursued by his party when it was in government, before the end of the powersharing deal with the SNP, including a “watertight ban on socalled conversion therapy”.

Some have raised concerns about the conversion therapy plans and how they could affect parenting and the pastoral care offered by religious leaders.

Appearing on The Sunday Show on the BBC, Mr Gray was asked if the Scottish Government would go ahead with the new law banning conversion therapy.

He said: “The first minister said that we are going to look at the consultation responses from the conversion therapy consultation and reflect upon them.

“But we are committed to continuing with that legislation because it’s an important piece of legislation.”

He was also asked whether the recommendations of the Cass Review would be implemented in Scotland.

The review examined gender care services in England and criticised the lack of evidence around the use of puberty blockers and other medical intervention.

Following the publication of the review by Dr Hilary Cass, two Scottish health boards – one of which covers the only gender clinic in the country for young people – decided to pause the prescription of puberty blockers to new patients.

Mr Gray said: “We are now reflecting upon Dr Cass’s recommendations. Our amendment suggested we would be responding before the summer recess and that’s something I’m committed to.”

Mr Gray also said he hopes to lead a debate at Holyrood about the future of the NHS later this month.

He told the BBC: “I am relatively open to ideas as long as they don’t cross the red lines that I have around making sure that our NHS remains in public hands and it remains free at the point of use.”

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: “The SNP must implement the recommendations of the Cass Review in full.

“Now that the extremist Greens are no longer in government, Neil Gray and John Swinney need to show some leadership and give clarity over gender care.”

Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman said: “Conversion practices are brutal and cruel.

“They have no place in a progressive or modern Scotland.

“A watertight ban on these abusive practices is long overdue.”

COMMITTED: Health Secretary Neil Gray backs a ban.