Ms Somerville said ministers “cannot comment on ongoing cases such as the one in NHS Fife”, but added: “In general ministers are very clear they stand firmly behind the provisions in the Equality Act and the exemptions contained within it.
While she stressed the importance of the “protection of women’s rights”, Ms Somerville also made clear the Scottish Government will “continue to support the trans community”, saying this is “important” because trans people are amongst the “most marginalised in Scotland”.
Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville made plain the Scottish Government will engage with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on the issue.
The EHRC has now said it wants to meet with Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray to discuss a forthcoming “guide to transitioning” for health boards, while also reminding NHS Fife of its “obligations” under equalities legislation.
The Scottish Government is “very committed” to working with the UK’s equalities regulator after it wrote to Holyrood ministers about access to single-sex changing spaces, MSPs have been told.
