Stakeholder correspondence

FOI reference: FOI-2025-3337, 3338, 3339

You asked

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I request a copy of all emails that were received and sent by Professor Alice Sullivan to the National Statistician (regardless of the permanent appointment or the interim holder of that role) for the whole of 2025. 

I also request a copy of all emails that were received and sent by Professor Alice Sullivan to the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority Board (regardless of the permanent appointment or the interim holder of that role) for the whole of 2025. 

I request a copy of all emails that were sent by the UK Statistics Authority Board and its members around the attendance of Professor Alice Sullivan to the board meeting on the 26 June 2025, including any correspondence with her, between board members before and after the meeting.

We said

Thank you for your request.  

Please see the associated downloads, containing the requested correspondence. 

Some personal data has been redacted under s.40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) as it would breach data protection principles to disclose this information. 

A near-final draft copy of the Sullivan review was attached to one of the emails in scope. This is exempt from disclosure under s.41 of FOIA, as the information was provided with the expectation of confidence. The final version of the review is available on the GOV.UK website: Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender. 

An email exchange between the Acting National Statistician and Professor Sullivan has been withheld from the bundle. This exchange discusses a draft update which, following feedback, is undergoing revision. This feedback therefore provides a partial and misleading picture of the research outcomes for the ongoing sex and gender harmonisation project. As this research will also have a final report published in the future, the information is exempt under s.22A of FOIA. 

This exemption is subject to a public interest test. Whilst we recognise the public interest in viewing ongoing discussions on this topic, there is also public interest in ONS having the time and space to assess the evidence and produce finalised findings. Following this, the public and stakeholders can engage in productive debate on the findings. Premature and partial disclosure of misleading findings would not be productive and therefore is not in the public interest to disclose.