Our Reference: FOI01149/Sutherland/QE1

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) recognises that there is a user
requirement for information on sexual identity but considers that a
compulsory census is not a suitable means of collecting sexual identity
information for the first time. Further information on this is available
in paragraphs 3.111 through to 3.117 in the 2011 Census White Paper
***Helping to Shape Tomorrow*** published in December 2008. This is
available on the website at
[1]http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census....

The question content of the 2011 Census takes account of an extensive
programme of user consultation, question research, testing and
development. Census questions need to be proven to work and provide
accurate and reliable information. Testing carried out by the ONS sexual
identity project, which was set up to develop a suitable question for
surveys, showed that there were sensitivities around the administration of
the question in a census. Privacy and confidentiality were the key
concerns expressed in the focus groups by lesbian, gay, bisexual and
heterosexual groups. This is because the collection of information in a
census household questionnaire means that individual information is often
seen by other members of the household and is often completed by one
household member on behalf of all others. Inaccurate information may be
supplied where a person has not shared their sexual identity with other
members of the household.
More information about the sexual identity project is available at
[2]http://www.ons.gov.uk/about-statistics/m...

The report on the sexual identity project is available at
[3]http://www.ons.gov.uk/about-statistics/m...
A question on sexual identity was introduced into the ONS Integrated
Household Survey (IHS) in 2009. The IHS is an interviewer-based,
voluntary household survey, likely to be more effective at eliciting
sensitive information such as sexual identity than the census. Government
surveys are highly valued data sources. High quality and timely estimates
on the size and characteristics of the lesbian, gay and bisexual
population are currently better collected using a household survey. The
first year's results (April 2009 *** March 2010) on sexual identity based
on the Integrated Household Survey, providing baseline estimates of the
lesbian gay and bisexual (LGB) population of the United Kingdom are
available on the website together with an evaluation report ***Measuring
Sexual Identity***:-

[4]http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Pr...
You have the right to have this response to your freedom of information
request reviewed internally by an internal review process and, if you
remain unhappy with the decision, by the Information Commissioner. If you
would like to have the decision reviewed please write to Frank Nolan,
Office for National Statistics, Room 1127, Government Buildings, Cardiff
Road, Newport, Gwent, NP10 8XG.

If you have any queries about this email, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Kind regards,

Paul Wearn LLB (Hons)
Legal Services
Office for National Statistics

For the latest data on the economy and society consult National Statistics
at http://www.ons.gov.uk

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References

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1. http://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census...
2. http://www.ons.gov.uk/about-statistics/m...
3. http://www.ons.gov.uk/about-statistics/m...
4. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Pr...