FOI reference: FOI-2025-3128
You asked
I would like a list of all organisations including government departments and universities (including departmental affiliations) that have been consulted as part of the sex and gender identity harmonisation activity that the GSS harmonisation team is undertaking.
We said
Thank you for your request.
You have requested a list of all organisations consulted as part of the Sex and Gender Identity harmonisation activity currently being undertaken by the GSS Harmonisation Team, including government departments and universities.
As outlined in our published work plan, we are nearing the conclusion of the discovery phase of this project. To date, our efforts have primarily focused on desk-based topic research and initiating respondent qualitative research with a range of demographic groups. We have not yet consulted formally with government departments or academic data users as forthcoming guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) may shape their user needs. We are aware that the EHRC has signalled its intention to publish guidance; however, this has not yet been released.
During this early phase of our work, the GSS Harmonisation team has met with the following organisations:
The Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR)
The Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO), based in the Cabinet Office
Welsh Government
Scottish Government
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
The Government Analysis Function Heads of Profession Group, a cross-Department group whose membership includes all Heads of Profession for statistics in UK Government Departments
NHS England, via the UISPC project
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
The GSS team also hosted 5 regional listening events across the UK at the beginning of its work. Attendees registered a place to join in these events via an open registration process communicated through GSS and ONS publications and channels. The purpose of these events was for the Government Statistical Service to listen to a wide range of perspectives on the topics of data for sex and for gender identity.