You asked
In a BBC Wales online article on the gender identity question in the 2021 census, an ONS spokesperson is reported as stating: "ONS had undertaken extensive research to ensure only genuine identities were recorded."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55721123
Please provide a list of all gender identities that the ONS views to be genuine.
We said
Thank you for your request.
You have asked for a list of all gender identities the ONS views to be genuine. It is important to emphasise that we do not hold a definitive list of what identities are genuine. We have researched possible answers that may or may not be applicable to inform our automatic processing systems, but this is not a definitive list. This list is continuously evolving, and these tools will be refined once data are received because we recognise that people may provide responses that are currently unfamiliar to us.
Unfortunately, we would be unable to release the list held for automatic processing purposes as the exemption found in s.36(2)(c) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 is engaged. S.36(2)(c) states that information is exempt if, in the reasonable opinion of a qualified person, the disclosure of information would, or would be likely to prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs.
If we were to release this information, it could be used to influence answers to the gender identity question, therefore affecting the quality of the data collected. It is a part of ONS functions to produce good quality statistics that serve the public good. Our functions would be severely undermined if the quality of data we collect were to be affected. This is evidence that prejudice would directly arise from the release of the information.
The use of the exemption is subject to a public interest test where we must determine if withholding the information is in the public interest. The only valid arguments in favour of disclosure are transparency and public accountability. In favour of withholding are ensuring we are able to complete our statistical functions efficiently. Furthermore, if our ability to collect accurate data on gender identity is prejudiced, this could affect policies and funding put in place by government in the future, which would not fall in favour of the public interest. Therefore, in this instance we find that the public interest falls in favour of withholding the information.