The Government must get the “balance” right in new laws banning conversion therapy practices aimed at transgender people, a minister said on Wednesday, after senior MPs raised concerns about the plans.
Robert Jenrick said he did not want to see parents “criminalised” over the proposals which will outlaw conversion therapy in England and Wales.
The government had previously said transgender people would not be included in new laws against attempting to change someone’s sexuality.
But Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said a bill would be published shortly that would “protect everyone, including those targeted on the basis of being transgender”.
Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch is believed to have raised concerns that the new laws could criminalise parents and that conversations between guardians and trans children must not be outlawed.
Immigration minister Mr Jenrick told Sky News that the way the bill is drafted “will needed to be balanced” and insisted the Government was “not going to rush into this complex issue”.
He said: “We all support the abolition of conversion therapies which are malicious attempts to convince people to live lives outside of their gender.
“So banning people from doing those kind of courses or interventions is absolutely the right thing. But this is a much more complex issue than perhaps it seems at first glance.
“If you’re a young person who is trans or is thinking through the issues related to trans, it is absolutely right you should be able to turn to your parents or trusted adults for support and advice at that time and as a parent it is absolutely right I could provide that advice and support, without fear of being criminalised or some other sort of sanction.”
