You asked
Please can you disclose the following information:
Copy of any briefing given to 250 gurdwaras regarding the proposed change to the 2021 census to include a 'Sikh' ethnic tick box.
A list of the 112 gurdwaras who wrote into the APPG for British Sikhs to support the campaign for a separate 'Sikh' ethnic tick box.
Any written responses to the APPG for British Sikhs from the gurdwaras shared with the ONS.
Copies of correspondence with the office of Preet Gill MP, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, the APPG for British Sikhs and the Sikh Federation UK.
We said
Thank you for your response.
We have used your numbering for ease of reference.
Unfortunately for question 1 we do not hold this information. We have not provided a briefing to Gurdwaras regarding the proposed change to the 2021 census to include a 'Sikh' ethnic tick box.
We will be withholding information in relation to questions 2 – 4, as we find that sections 41(1) and 35(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) are engaged.
Section 41
S.41(1) states that information is exempt if it was obtained by the public authority from any other person and the disclosure of the information to the public would constitute an actionable breach of confidence. Documents and correspondence in relation to much of your request provided to us in confidence with no expectation of publication. S.41 is an absolute exemption and so no consideration of the public interest test needs to be applied.
Section 35
S.35(1)(a) states that information held by a government department is exempt if the information relates to the formulation or development of government policy. We are currently working on making White Paper recommendations on the content for the 2021 Census to government; the release of the information included could undermine the integrity of the policy making process, particularly in relation to live issues.
The use of s.35 is subject to consideration of the public interest test. Arguments in favour of disclosure are accountability and transparency. Arguments in favour of withholding the information is maintaining a safe space for government officials to debate issues away from external scrutiny and consider all policy options in private. The census is a once in a decade opportunity to measure the population and use findings to inform public policy. We are committed to being as open and transparent as possible regarding our decisions on the census, particularly through the publication of Topic Consultations; however, we would not do so if it were to cause detriment to the process. To release information regarding our recommendations before the publication of the White Paper and the regulations that follow would undermine the policy process and potentially undermine the undertaking of the census itself; neither of which would be in the public interest.