Overview

This bill amends the Census Acts of 1920 (England and Wales) and 1969 (Northern Ireland) to include questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in future censuses. It also removes penalties for non-disclosure of this information.

Description

The bill makes two key changes: Firstly, it adds "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the list of particulars that can be collected in the census for both England and Wales and Northern Ireland. Secondly, it removes any penalties for individuals who choose not to answer questions about their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to significantly impact government spending. The cost of adding these questions to the census will likely be minimal, offset by the potential benefits of improved data collection for policy-making.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• LGBTQ+ individuals: The bill directly impacts this group by giving them the choice to disclose or not disclose their sexual orientation and gender identity without penalty.
• Census takers and data analysts: Their work will be impacted by the inclusion of new data points.
• Researchers and policymakers: Access to more comprehensive demographic data will allow for better analysis and informed policy decisions concerning LGBTQ+ populations.

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