The government has made no moves to ban gay conversion therapy in the UK – almost two years after pledging to "eradicate" it.

In 2018, then-prime minister Theresa May's LGBT action plan said the government would bring forward proposals to "end the practice of conversion therapy" as a priority. But equalities minister Kemi Badenoch said this week ministers considered it "a very complex issue" and that the government had not decided how to proceed.

In July 2018 ministers said the practice "must be stamped out” – with legislation if necessary – and described so-called “gay cures" as “abuse of the worst kind". A July 2019 progress report published a year later said a formal consultation was on the way, but none has yet materialised.

Ms Badenoch suggested on Monday that there were no immediate proposals to change the law and made no mention of the promised consultation.

"Conversion therapy is a very complex issue," Ms Badenoch said in a written parliamentary written answer replying to a question about plans for legislation. "There are a wide range of practices which may fall within its scope and we want to ensure we have a thorough understanding of the situation in the UK to inform an effective approach. Before any decision is made on proposals for ending conversion therapy we must understand the problem, the range of options available and the impact they would have. We will work to deepen our understanding and consider all options for ending the practice of conversion therapy."