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<p><del class="ministerial">The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the regulator
for the public sector equality duty set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.
The Commission uses a range of levers to ensure local authorities and other public
bodies comply with the requirements of the duty, from provision of guidance through
to enforcement activity where it considers there to be a strategic benefit.</del></p><p><del
class="ministerial">In light of the Brighton University report highlighted by the
Honourable Member, the Commission will be writing to the Local Government Association
(LGA) drawing its attention to the findings of the research and of the Commission’s
evidence of the key equality challenges facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people, and asking the LGA to remind local authorities of their legal obligations
under the public sector equality duty.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We encourage
all service providers, including financial services, to provide a welcoming environment
for all customers, including transgender and non-binary customers.</ins></p><p><ins
class="ministerial">To support this aim, we published ‘Providing services for transgender
customers: a guide’ in November 2015 to help service providers ensure transgender
people are welcomed, included and valued as customers, clients, users or members,
and to ensure they are treated fairly and appropriately. It also aims to help service
providers comply with the law.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We welcome the
fact that some banks, such as the Metro Bank, allow customers to select non-binary
as a gender option.</ins></p>
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