FOI Ref: FOI/2023/4744
You asked
Thank you for publishing the census data on gender identity and sexual orientation. Could you please tell me the number/percentages of each gender identity and sexual orientation for disabled people?
We said
Thank you for your enquiry.
We will be publishing this information later in 2023. This will be included in the 'Disability in England and Wales in 2021: protected characteristics’ report listed in our Census 2021 Health, disability and unpaid care analysis plans.
Also in 2023, we will be publishing information on sexual orientation and gender identity categories in terms of health and disability. This aspect is listed in our Census 2021 Sexual orientation and gender identity analysis plans.
As such, the information you have requested is considered exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. As a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration, and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.