The UK Government has started the process of billing the Scottish Government for £150,000 in legal costs incurred in the court battle over controversial gender reforms.
The Scotland Office said it had begun the formal legal process of being reimbursed for the bill with Scottish secretary Alister Jack set to lodge a motion with the courts on Friday.
Scottish ministers took the UK Government to court after Jack used a Section 35 order for the first time in history to stop the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from becoming law.
The Court of Session ruled last month that the Scottish secretary acted legally when he blocked the legislation.
The Scottish Government said it would not launch an appeal.
On Thursday, Jack said: “The Scottish Government chose to pursue this litigation in spite of the cost to the taxpayer.
“My legal advisors have today intimated to the Scottish Government that we have started the process of seeking an award of expenses in defending the case.”
Taxpayers have already shelled out £230,000 for costs on the Scottish Government’s side of the argument.
The bill was designed to make life easier for transgender people by making it easier to obtain a gender recognition certificate – the official route to changing your legally recognised sex.
But opponents said it went against UK-wide equalities law and put women’s only spaces at risk.
The bill was voted through by the Scottish Parliament with cross-party support in December 2022 by 86 votes to 39.
The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
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