Diversity in political representation in Scotland: data improvement project proposal
We have been scoping out a project to work with stakeholders to improve the completeness of data on the diversity of election candidates and elected representatives in Scotland. This paper sets out details of a proposed new data collection at the 2022 local council elections.
Annex A: Proposed questions and rationale
Section 4 of this paper set out our approach to developing a questionnaire for this exercise. This annex sets out the proposed questions and response options for the questionnaire, as well as the rationale for each of the proposed questions to be included.
The proposed questionnaire has been developed along the lines of equality monitoring forms and diversity monitoring forms that are commonly used in a range of settings with the addition of potential questions on parliamentary experience, socio-economic status/background and caring responsibilities. The questions asked are broadly in line with the Census 2022 and/or national surveys. Where questions don't align we set out, below, the rationale for choosing another question and/or response option.
All questions are non-mandatory and candidates can skip questions they would prefer not to answer.
All respondents will be asked which political party they are standing for (or whether they are standing as an independent candidate), and which local authority they are standing in.
It is important that the form and subsequent data is well-designed and useful. We would welcome feedback on what is proposed.
Protected characteristics questions
| Age |
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|---|---|---|
| Proposed question |
Proposed response options |
Rationale for this proposed question |
| What was your age at your last birthday? |
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Age is a protected characteristic. The proposed question is the Scottish Government's harmonised question for use in surveys in Scotland and is used in the Improvement Service' Survey of Councillors[54] [55]. Information on age can be gathered by asking respondents' age; age group; date of birth; or year of birth[56]. Examples include:
Asking for a date or year of birth would be preferable to asking whether individuals belong in a particular age range as it would provide a more flexible and future-proof dataset, i.e. we would be able to accurately compare the 2022 data on age with national age data or other candidate surveys irrespective of which age ranges they used to report their data. And any future diversity data collection would not be tied to the age categories chosen for this initial survey if they wanted to collect comparable data. While people tend to be used to providing age / date of birth information in different contexts, we think that some candidates may feel more comfortable providing age at last birthday rather than their specific date of birth, so are suggesting 'What was your age at your last birthday' for this question. Reporting: Cross-sectional analysis in the report will present age data aggregated into age ranges by other characteristics, i.e. number of those aged 18-24, 25-34 etc. who are women/men and so on. |
| Sex |
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|---|---|---|
| Proposed question |
Proposed response options |
Rationale for this proposed question |
| What is your Sex? |
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Sex is a protected characteristic. The proposed question is the recommended question in the published guidance for public bodies on the collection of data on sex and gender, alongside the question below on trans status[58]. This question aligns with the guidance for Scotland's Census 2022[59]. Other options could be:
"How would you describe your gender identity?"
However, this question will change for the 2022 Scottish Household survey[61] to align with the published guidance for public bodies on the collection of data on sex and gender noted above. |
| Gender reassignment/Trans status |
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|---|---|---|
| Proposed question |
Proposed response options |
Rationale for this proposed question |
| Do you consider yourself to be trans, or have a trans history? If you would like to, please describe your trans status (for example non-binary, trans man, trans woman): |
|
Gender reassignment/Trans status is a protected characteristic. The proposed questions are the recommended questions in the published guidance for public bodies on the collection of data on sex and gender[62] and will be asked in the Scottish Household Survey from 2022[63] onwards. The proposed question is also very similar to the question asked in the Improvement Service Survey of Councillors[64].
Very little data is collected on people's trans status or history in Scotland, and there are no definitive international standards for how to do this[65]. Stakeholder engagement as part of the 2022 Scottish Census found that trans people preferred to answer a sex question (on a self-defined sex basis) followed by a trans status question[66]. |
| Sexual orientation |
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|---|---|---|
| Proposed question |
Proposed response options |
Rationale for this proposed question |
| Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation? |
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Sexual orientation is a protected characteristic. The proposed wording of this question follows that in the 2022 Census[67] and the 2022 Scottish Household Survey[68] which is also very similar to the question asked in the Improvement Service Survey of Councillors[69]. Another option could be the Scottish Household Survey question prior to 2022: "Which of the options on this card best describes how you think of yourself?"
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| Disability |
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|---|---|---|
| Proposed questions |
Proposed response options |
Rationale for this proposed question |
| Do you have any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more? |
|
Disability is a protected characteristic. The Scottish Government equality unit have advised that we use questions with the current wording in The Scottish Surveys Core Questions (SSCQ)[70]rather than changing to be in line with the 2022 census. This guidance is in line with the GSS harmonisation group and ONS surveys[71] and mirrors what is asked in the Improvement Service survey of Councillors[72]. The questionnaire could add a third question on the nature of the respondent's condition, which could provide information that may be helpful for understanding what type of support candidates and councillors may need. Examples of this are the 2022 Census question[73] (see below) and the proposed question within the Real Inclusion's Employerability Toolkit[74].
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| Does your condition or illness / do any of your conditions or illnesses reduce your ability to carry-out day-to-day activities? |
|
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| Race/ Ethnicity |
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|---|---|---|
| Proposed question |
Proposed response options |
Rationale for this proposed question |
| What is your ethnic group? |
Choose ONE section from A to F, then tick one box which best describes your ethnic group or background.
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Race/Ethnicity is a protected characteristic. The proposed question is used in the 2022 Census[75] and 2022 Scottish Household Survey. The Scottish Government Equalities unit are currently working on refreshed ethnicity guidance but this is currently based around the 2022 Census question. This guidance is in draft form and will hopefully be finalised soon. |
| Religion |
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|---|---|---|
| Proposed question |
Proposed response options |
Rationale for this proposed question |
| What religion, religious denomination or body do you belong to? |
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Religion is a protected characteristic. The proposed question is used in the Scottish Household Survey[76] and 2022 Census[77]. |
Socio-economic diversity and proposed additional questions
Socio-economic diversity
In line with the Fairer Scotland Duty[78], we have been exploring the inclusion of questions on socio-economic status in the questionnaire. To date we have spoken with SG poverty and inequality colleagues and the Poverty and Inequality Commission, and reviewed the following guidance:
- Office for National Statistics - The National Statistics Socio-economic classification (NS-SEC)[79].
- Cabinet Office - Annex A - Evaluation of measures of socio-economic background[80].
- Social Mobility Commission - Simplifying how employers measure socio-economic background[81].
There is a wide range of options for survey questions seeking to pick up different dimensions of socio-economic background and status, including (but not limited to):
- Occupation (If applicable, what is your occupational type? (Or last occupational type if no longer in additional employment to your role as an elected member))
- Employment status (What is your current employment status?)
- Educational background (Which of these qualifications do you have?)
- Parental background:
- o What is the highest level of qualifications achieved by either of your parent(s) or guardian(s) by the time you were 18?
- o What was the occupation of your main household earner when you were about aged 14?
As noted in the approach section, in order to minimise burden on candidates and maximise response rates, we think it's important to keep the questionnaire as short and straightforward to complete as possible. It will not be possible to cover all angles of socio-economic diversity in the form but some questions provide additional useful information for understanding candidates, councillors and their potential support needs in office. For example, asking about current employment status (e.g. employed full-time/part time, unemployed, retired) helps councils and stakeholders to understand the proportion of councillors working alongside their councillor role, and how this may interact with other characteristics. Data on the occupational backgrounds of elected representatives is useful to better understand the councillor cohort and any patterns in which occupational types are currently most likely to be attracted to the role of councillor (or MSP / MP).
Questions about respondent's parent's education and/or occupation are commonly used measures of socio-economic background, but may not be best suited to this context[82].
We would welcome comments and feedback on the options for measuring socio-economic diversity in this context and will be seeking further engagement with stakeholders on this section.
| Previous experience |
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|---|---|---|
| Proposed question |
Proposed response options |
Rationale for this proposed question |
| Have you stood for election to a council in the past? |
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Council experience question. These questions are variations of the questions asked in the 2007 Scottish local government candidate survey[83] and the Welsh local government candidate survey[84]. Asking candidates and elected members about their council experience would enable comparison of the characteristics of the new and previous cohort of candidates and elected members. Alternative could be:
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| If you have been elected as a councillor previously, how many years in total have you served as a councillor? |
Please include all periods of office that you have served as a councillor. (please write in) |
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| Have you ever…? |
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Potential additional political experience question. Proposed question is adapted from question asked in Comparative candidate survey[86]: Asking candidates about their political experience would enable comparison of the characteristics of candidates with different levels of experience. |
| Caring responsibilities |
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|---|---|---|
| Proposed question |
Proposed response options |
Rationale for this proposed question |
| Do you have responsibility for any children aged 16 or under? |
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This questions proposed to capture additional information on candidates and elected members caring responsibilities, and any intersectionality with protected characteristics.
The proposed children caring question is adapted from the Welsh local government candidate[87] survey[88] question. Another option would be to ask:
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| Do you look after, or give any help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of either: • long-term physical / mental ill-health / disability; or • problems related to old age?" (Do not count anything you do as part of your paid employment) |
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This question proposed to capture additional information on candidates and elected members caring responsibilities, and any intersectionality with protected characteristics. The proposed caring question is from the 2022 Census question[90]: An alternative caring question(s) could be the question asked in the Scottish Household Survey[91]: "Apart from anything you do as part of paid employment, do you look after, or give any regular help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of either long-term physical / mental ill-health / disability; or problems related to old age?"
If respondents answer yes, Scottish Household Survey then goes on to ask: "In total, how many hours each week approximately do you spend providing any regular help or support? (include care provide both inside and outside the household. Exclude any caring that is done as part of any paid employment.)
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Contact
Email: Gillian.Cruickshank@gov.scot
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