Sex and gender - draft guidance: consultation analysis

Consultation process

The approach taken to consultation built on the previous engagement that the Chief Statistician and working group had already undertaken with key stakeholders and members of the public^[1]. Scotland is not alone in considering the issues around how data on women and men is collected, and this public consultation aimed to get a representative selection of feedback on the draft proposals.

The draft guidance was published on the Sex and Gender in data’s gov.scot group page on 9 December 2020, and shared directly with individuals and organisations who had already been involved with the work. The draft guidance and paper can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/sex-and-gender-in-data-working-group---collecting-data-on-sex-and-gender-draft-guidance-for-feedback/ and a list of stakeholders engaged in the first phase of engagement can be found at SGD0104+-Communications+and+engagement+plan+-+update+26+November+2019.pdf (www.gov.scot)

The closing date for feedback was 12 February 2021.

Responses were analysed by the Office of the Chief Statistician in order to produce an initial analysis report, and highlight areas requiring further thought and consideration as work to develop this guidance progresses. The intent had been to produce one report but, due to the volume and richness of responses, it was decided to produce a short initial report for use by the working groups at their meeting in April 2021, and a full final report in due course.

76 responses were received – all of these by email to either the statistics enquiries mailbox or chief.statistician@gov.scot – with 56 from individuals, 9 from academics and 11 from organisations. Responses came from a range of individuals and organisations, including those with an interest in protecting women’s rights, those interested in the Census, academics and researchers who use data on sex, organisations who promote women’s equality, and organisations who campaign for the rights of the LGBT community. There was some geographic spread amongst responses, with most coming from Scotland but others from elsewhere in the UK.

Where respondents give permission for their response to be made public, responses will be published on the working group’s gov.scot page in due course.