Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has said the UK Government "will robustly defend" its decision to block Holyrood's gender reform bill after the SNP-led Government launched a legal challenge to the veto.
Tory MP Jack said the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was blocked because it "would have an adverse effect on reserved matters" including the UK-wide Equalities Act.
He said the use of the Section 35 order "is entirely within the devolution settlement as set out from its inception, with cross party support.”
Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville confirmed the Government would be challenging the block on Wednesday afternoon.
But critics believe the "self-ID" plans pose a threat to the rights of women and girls and the UK Government used Section 35 of the original devolution legislation to block the law.
The bill, approved by MSPs in December, simplifies the process for trans people to change their gender.
Jack said: "The UK Government will robustly defend the decision to prevent the Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Reform Bill from becoming law.
"I made the order under Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 after thorough and careful consideration of all the relevant advice and the policy implications.
"I was very clear in the accompanying Statement of Reasons how the Bill would have an adverse effect on reserved matters, including on the operation of the law as it applies to Great Britain-wide equalities protections.
“The use of the power is entirely within the devolution settlement as set out from its inception, with cross party support.”
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