I wish to raise two matters. First, the gender recognition Bill is due for publication within a week or so. Is there an exact date for it? Second, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board legislation has been promised a number of times, but no progress has been made on a Bill. I acknowledge that the plans are proceeding and the board is in place, but no planning application has been made as yet. Is it intended to use the pre-legislative process to refer the Bill to a committee before publication, given the fact that it is not intended to be published until late next year? It could be fast-tracked in this way.

I anticipate that the gender recognition Bill will be published by the end of the year. There is no date for the national paediatric Bill as yet, but a lot of work is ongoing in that regard.