Sex Equality and Equity Network (SEEN) at the ONS

FOI reference: FOI-2026-3640

You asked

1. Does your department have a Sex Equality and Equity Network (SEEN) and is it an incorporated diversity network for the department? 

2. How many civil servants are members of this network? (If you feel like this is too disclosive to be released the exact number, please band eg <50, 51 to 100 and so on.) 

3. Who has been the Senior Civil Service (SCS) network sponsor since the establishment of the network? (If multiple members of the SCS have been sponsors, then list all sponsors since establishment. If the network has existed for more than five years, please limit to the last five years). If you feel like that would be a section 38 violation, please release the grade (eg SCS 1).

4. Please can I have copies for emails sent from the SEEN network to the permanent secretary, the head of HR and to the internal communications team since 1 January 2026?

We said

Thank you for your request. 

In answer to your questions 1, 2, and 3, we do not have a Sex Equality and Equity Network (SEEN) established as an incorporated diversity network at the UK Statistics Authority. We therefore do not have a count of members, nor do we have a Senior Civil Service (SCS) sponsor. 

Whilst we do not have a SEEN incorporated diversity network, there is a Civil Service-wide SEEN that Authority staff can join. The cross-Civil Service SEEN has its own cross-Civil Service sponsorship arrangements, in line with the Civil Service Staff Network Policy. 

In response to your final question, we do not hold copies of any emails sent by an incorporated diversity network SEEN, as one does not exist. However, we do hold copies of emails sent from Authority staff who are members of the Civil Service-wide SEEN to the internal communications team and the Permanent Secretary. 

These can be found in the associated attachment. We encourage colleagues to use internal communications channels responsibly and monitor and manage them to ensure they are used in a way that reflects the standards of impartiality, professionalism and integrity set out in the Civil Service Code. 

Personal data has been redacted from the release under s.40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), as disclosure would breach data protection principles.

We do not hold any emails sent to the Head of our Human Resources department (People and Place Directorate).