You asked
Please could you provide all documents, including emails, minutes, etc, since the 26 June 2020 related to the guidance to the "sex" question on the 2021 census. In particular can you ensure you include documents related to "behind-the-scenes discussions" that happened after the final ONS report on the "sex" question was published.
Further can you provide the guidance notes for the "sex" question that will be used in the 2021 census or the latest draft of these.
We said
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request for all documents since 26 June 2020 related to the guidance for the "sex" question for the 2021 Census.
In order to ensure that we have fully answered your request, we would need to search the email accounts of many staff members working on the sex question (including staff who have moved on to other business areas), as well as numerous business databases, files, shared drives and personal workspaces for correspondence received or sent, and documents relating to this topic. The search would also need to encompass a wide range of possible search terms to ensure all relevant documents are found.
The cost limit for replying to a Freedom of Information request is £600 or 24-hours work, and in our view, we would need to greatly exceed this with your request. For future requests, please consider limiting the size of the time periods covered, the recipients of information, and limiting the types of documents or correspondence.
However, we are able to provide the following link to our finalised guidance for the Census 2021 sex question: Census 2021: Final guidance for the questions "What is your sex?"
You may also be interested in the following previously answered FOI requests regarding this topic:
Documents relating to the mandatory sex question. This provides documentation that is pertinent to the signing off on draft proposals subsequently put forward by the Cabinet Office in a white paper to not provide a third, neutral response option for a mandatory question [Sex].
Sex and gender identity consultation for the 2021 Census. This provides details of all individuals, groups and organisations consulted by ONS with regard to the development of questions on sex and gender identity for the 2021 Census.