Britain’s equalities watchdog has intervened after Labour insisted that tightening the law to protect single-sex spaces would be unnecessary.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has demanded to see the transgender policies of hundreds of public bodies after concerns about them were dismissed by ministers.
Baroness Falkner, chairman of the EHRC, said it would examine these and decide whether the Equality Act – which allows organisations to restrict access to women-only spaces such as bathrooms to those born female – is being followed correctly.
Her comments came after the Office for Equality and Opportunity last week brushed aside fears many public bodies are allowing people to access services based on their self-identified gender rather than their biological sex.
It said it had found a few examples where the guidance was not being interpreted correctly, after members of the public raised concerns about 404 organisations.
However, it claimed this was simply down to ‘confusion or a lack of awareness’.
EHRC chairman Baroness Falkner said the watchdog would examine these and decide whether the Equality Act is being followed correctly on single-sex spaces
A Trans Pride demonstrator holds a placard in a protest in central London in July
In response, Lady Falkner wrote to equalities minister Anneliese Dodds, thanking her for sending the EHRC 42 cases where the Equality Act 2010 was identified to have been misinterpreted.
She added: ‘We would find it helpful to see the remaining 362 examples submitted to you.
‘This would enable us to form a better judgment of the overall picture of compliance with the Act and guidance, inform the development of the statutory Code of Practice and our broader regulatory activity, and have confidence that the Act, on the whole, is being applied correctly.’