Scotland may ask people about their sexuality in next census
The last census did not contain a question on sexual orientation due to concerns about people’s privacy and the “public acceptability
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Your support makes all the difference.The next Scottish census may ask people about their sexual orientation for the first time, according to plans being considered by the Scottish Government.
The 2021 survey could also question people on how much they earn, how many bedrooms their house has and whether they have a second address, according to an official consultation document.
Scotland’s last census did not contain a question on sexual orientation due to concerns about people’s privacy and the “public acceptability” of including such a question in a compulsory survey, it says. But it argues that the data would be useful, as it would allow ministers to set a national “benchmark” against which levels of discrimination could be measured.
The National Records of Scotland (NRS), the Scottish Government department responsible for organising the census, said it was “important” to collect data on people’s sexual orientation, but added: “There are concerns regarding privacy, acceptability, accuracy and the effect on overall response rate that need to be considered.”
A question on second addresses – which was previously included in the census in England and Wales but not in Scotland – would improve population estimates and also shine a light on “the increasingly complex living patterns” of Scots, the documents argues.
Other potentially controversial new questions include asking about people’s income – which was set to be included in Scotland’s 2011 census, but was later dropped after MSPs at Holyrood raised privacy concerns – and the number of bedrooms in their house.
The latter question was included for the first time in the last UK census, but not in Scotland. Collecting data on bedroom numbers would help establish levels of overcrowding or under-occupation, the document says, which could in turn inform the allocation of affordable housing by local councils.
A spokesperson for the NRS said: “Because of previous feedback, NRS anticipates strong demand for new or improved data relating to a number of topics including sexual orientation, income and household accommodation.
“However, NRS needs to consider whether the census is the most appropriate survey for collecting this data and the best approach to providing this information. We welcome all views, on all topics, during this consultation period.”
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