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, removing penalties for non-disclosure of this information.

Description

The bill modifies the existing census legislation in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Specifically, it:

• Adds "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the list of particulars that may be requested in the census.
• Removes penalties for individuals who choose not to provide information regarding their sexual orientation and gender identity.

The changes apply to both the Census Act 1920 (England and Wales) and the Census Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to have a significant direct impact on government spending. The costs associated with incorporating the new questions into the census are likely to be minimal.

Groups Affected

The bill directly impacts:

• LGBTQ+ individuals: The removal of penalties may encourage more accurate and complete responses from those identifying with a sexual orientation or gender identity other than heterosexual and cisgender.
• Census respondents: All individuals completing the census will be affected by the inclusion of the new questions. The removal of penalties gives people more freedom to choose whether or not to answer these questions.
• Researchers and policymakers: The inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity data will improve the accuracy of social and demographic analysis, potentially informing future policymaking.

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