For children and young people will be considered, FM says
recommendations but the detail that she goes into,” Yousaf said. “First and foremost, the Scottish Government and, importantly, our health boards and Greater Glasgow and Clyde in particular, obviously given the responsibility over Sandyford, it will be taking time to look through the report, to examine it and explore it in detail. And, of course, continue to liaise with Dr Cass and clinicians in Scotland.”
The SNP leader said he will not make a decision on what clinicians “should or should not prescribe”, adding that the Cass Review will be given the “utmost consideration”.
He also said there were several “positive recommendations” mentioned in the review to consider, including the immediate creation of more regional gender identity hubs in order to meet increasing demand.
“I promise that we won’t be taking an inordinate amount of time to consider,” Yousaf added. “But it is right, when there is a report of almost 400 pages when you include the appendices, that we should take some time over it and clinicians should take the time over it when it comes to deciding the way forward for some of our most vulnerable marginalised young people.”
The First Minister’s comments came as UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer urged sporting chiefs to ban transgender athletes from elite women’s sporting events. Writing in the Daily Mail, Frazer said sporting bodies have a duty to set out clear guidance and take an “unambiguous position”. She said she had spoken to representatives of sports including cricket and football at a meeting on Monday.
The Football Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board’s policies are under review, but do currently permit transgender women to compete in female competitions subject to certain conditions.