YORK MP Hugh Bayley is pressing for a change in the law to allow at least three transsexuals from the city to be granted new birth certificates.

At present, the law forbids people who have changed sex from being granted a new certificate.

Mr Bayley said this led to embarrassment and other problems when they attempted to apply for jobs.

The European Court of Human Rights has ordered ministers to change the rules and allow transsexuals to receive new birth certificates. These would state their new sex - rather than insisting on their sex at the time of birth.

Ministers issued a statement last year promising to update the law, but are yet to set down a firm timetable for action.

Mr Bayley said he had been contacted by three transsexual constituents who want the law to be changed "sooner rather than later".

One person is anxious about applying for a new job, as employers have a right to demand to see a birth certificate.

Mr Bayley said a second constituent was concerned about what would happen when they applied for a job working in the public sector.

All staff employed by the education sector, for example, carry out a full criminal check - which would automatically reveal a person's original sex. The MP raised their plight in a Commons debate last night, saying the European Court of Human Rights had said there must be a change in the law.

Updated: 11:35 Wednesday, January 08, 2003