Census policy ‘was captured by trans rights campaigners’

A new academic report claims that both the Office for National Statistics and the National Records of Scotland were “ideologically captured” by trans rights campaigners looking to change the sex question in the next census and as a result have “jeopardised” the ability of the nationwide surveys to collect robust data.

The report, Sex and the Census, which analysed the decision-making processes of the ONS and NRS using public documents and Freedom of Information requests, claims that both organisations failed to properly consult on potential changes to answering the question on what sex a person is, which would result in allowing people to “self identify” as the opposite sex and potentially skew the information collected.

Funded through Research England’s Strategic Priorities Fund allocation to Oxford University, and written by Professor Selina Todd, Dr Jane Clare Jones, and Lisa Mackenzie – one third of the Scottish policy collective Murray black burn-Mackenzie–the report says it shows how the organisations “privileged the views of one group over and above those of others”.

However both the ONS and the NRS rejected the suggestion their policies had been “captured” and said they had undertaken “wide-ranging consultation and engagement” ont he next Census, due to be held in England and Wales next year, and in Scotland in 2022.

The report, states that recent developments at the ONS and NRS have “led to changes to the sex question in the census" meaning the sex question now records ‘self-identified sex’, or gender identity, rather than biological sex”.

It adds: “These changes have been made in away which lacks democratic transparency and accountability. We attribute these develop - ments to a process of‘ po licy capture,’ whereby public policy becomes skewed in favour of one particular interest group over and above others. In the case of the census, the demands of groups which claim to represent the interests of th et rans community have been privileged to the detriment of women, but also to those who require robust data on sex to plan public services, allocate public resources and monitor equalities outcomes.”

In Scotland the Census Bill proved controversial after the possibility of a “third sex” question was mooted to allow non-binary people the opportunity of avoiding saying if they were male or female. There was also tense debate around whet he rt rans gender people should be able to answer the question as how they identify rather than their biological sex.

Holy rood' s Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee which was dealing with the Bill recommended th es exqu esti on remain binary, which has been accepted by the government, although guidance to answer the question will allow transgender peo - pletotickt he box they identify with. There will also be a question about w he ther someone is transgender.