FOI Ref: FOI/2022/4623
You asked
The Scottish census, conducted in March 2022, carried guidance which advised respondents that they may answer the sex question based on their gender identity (not their sex at birth).
(1) What evidence has the Office for Statistics Regulation received from the National Records of Scotland regarding the quality of data collected on sex?
(2) Has NRS indicated what percentage of respondents answered the sex question as recording their sex at birth, and what percentage answered the sex question as recording their gender identity?
(3) Is the OSR satisfied that the data collected on sex meet the requirements of the Code of Practice for Statistics in terms of quality, value and trustworthiness?
We said
Thank you for your request.
1. What evidence has the Office for Statistics Regulation received from the National Records of Scotland regarding the quality of data collected on sex?
National Records Scotland (NRS) is undertaking its processing of all data collected through census and has not finished its quality assurance or compiled quality information on census variables, including on data about sex. We would expect to review the available evidence and information regarding the quality of data and statistics, and what is made available publicly when quality assessments are published alongside census outputs.
2. Has NRS indicated what percentage of respondents answered the sex question as recording their sex at birth, and what percentage answered the sex question as recording their gender identity?
As question 1, we have not received any evidence or analysis from NRS on the census sex question. To note, based on the census questions asked, we don't think respondent intention would be possible to be analysed. Your request for this type of information may be helpful for NRS so they can consider it and, if applicable, explain any challenges in the provision of analysis alongside the published materials. We would suggest contacting NRS directly on scotlandscensus@nrscotland.gov.uk.
3. Is the OSR satisfied that the data collected on sex meet the requirements of the Code of Practice for Statistics in terms of quality, value and trustworthiness?
We will make a judgment on Code compliance on all aspects of NRS's production of census statistics through our assessment process. This is currently ongoing and we are yet to finalise our position on this matter. We plan to publish an assessment report early in 2023 which will outline our views and may include requirements for NRS to action in relation to meeting the standards of the Code. NRS then have time to either meet these requirements in full, or provide sufficient commitments to address these, before we make our recommendation as to whether we consider census outputs are compliant with the Code and can be badged as National Statistics. This will happen prior to census first outputs being released. We will make public our views at that point. We will undertake the final stage of our assessment once census outputs have been published in light of users' views of the released data.
This approach is in line with our other census assessment work for England and Wales and Northern Ireland - you can see our published assessment reports and our review of actions taken by the census offices on our website.