FOI REF: FOI-2023-1206
You asked
Please supply a list of all the other sexual orientations specified and grouped together under "other".
We said
Thank you for your request.
We are considering a piece of work that will be published involving write-in responses to the sexual orientation question collected via the England and Wales Census 2021. We require the time to plan and develop a formal publication, with the appropriate accompanying context and commentary to maximise public understanding of the data. This will ensure the information is formatted and presented appropriately and it will allow us to apply any necessary disclosure controls to the information.
This process is required to ensure we produce information that is high quality, valuable, and trustworthy, which ensures that we continue to serve the public good. If we were to release this information prior to the completion of this process, we run the risk of producing information that would confuse rather than enhance enhancing public understanding. The release of the requested data at this time would prejudice the purpose of this project and undermine our reputation as a producer of reliable official statistics that serve the public.
As a result, Section 22A (b)(i) and (b)(iii) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) is engaged. This applies where the information requested was obtained in the course of conducting an ongoing programme of research, which we have a view to publish in the future, and release prior to our planned schedule would also prejudice the research programme itself or the organisation conducting the research.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise that the availability of information being freely available is desirable 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. This requires time and space. If this balance is incorrectly applied, we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data, which is not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when the accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.