FOI Reference: FOI/2022/4446
You asked
Please provide ethnic group statistics at Postcode Sector level from the most recent, 2021 census for England specifically, ideally in a spreadsheet format.
This request is a follow up for this FOI request https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/ethnicgroupstatisticsatpostcodelevel for the latest data, since the data published with this FOI request is from 2011 and therefore outdated.
We said
Thank you for your request.
2021 Census statistics for Postcode Sectors are not yet available.
Following consultation with data users, we confirmed that we plan to continue using Output Areas (OAs) as the main geographical base for Census 2021 outputs. We will then make several administrative geographies available by aggregating OAs, on a best-fit basis.
It is not expected that Parish level statistics will be included in the initial topic summaries which we aim to release from October to the end of the year 2022. However, as soon as it is practical, we plan to provide these datasets for other areas, such as postcode sectors, using the OA best-fit approach.
As such, this information is exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. Furthermore, as a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.
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