Anger over £100million cost of Labour’s gender Bill

The Government estimates that Labour’s proposed ban on conversion practices could cost businesses and taxpayers up to £100 million over ten years. The legislation would outlaw abusive attempts to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity, and ministers say it could reduce depression among those affected; critics dispute the projected benefits and warn that some implementation costs remain uncounted.

The impact assessment puts the law’s estimated social benefit at £783 million over a decade, based on projected reductions in depression, but says the evidence on prevalence is limited and relies heavily on self-selected surveys. It estimates public-sector implementation and staff training at £45.8 million, Victim Support at £240,000 over three years, and private-sector familiarisation at £13.6 million. Further costs to police, courts, prisons and other parts of the justice system have not yet been calculated.