Written question asked by Preet Kaur Gill (Labour) on Thursday, 10 July 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 July 2025. It was answered by James Murray (Labour) on Thursday, 17 July 2025 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury: Ethnic Groups

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing specific (a) Sikh and (b) Jewish options for a person’s ethnic group in data collection conducted by her Department.

Answer

HM Treasury follows guidance from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Government Statistical Service (GSS) on data collection using harmonised standards to ensure comparability across government. The current ethnicity standard is based on 2011 Census questions, which were reviewed and updated for the 2021 Census. The GSS has been conducting a comprehensive review of the ethnicity standard since March 2022, considering a range of user needs.

HM Treasury also collects staff data on ethnic group, national identity and religion, which helps capture fuller cultural identity beyond ethnicity alone. The ONS recognises that ethnic group membership is self-defined and subjectively meaningful to individuals, and there is no universal consensus on what constitutes an ethnic group.

The religion harmonised standard includes Sikh and Jewish response options, and any changes to data collection categories, including ethnicity, would follow the updated GSS harmonised standard once their review concludes. We continue to monitor this review closely and will implement any revised standards that emerge from the GSS process.

The timing for any changes will depend on when the GSS completes its review and issues updated guidance to departments.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 66616
Session: 2024-26
Subjects: Databases Ethnic groups Treasury
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Treasury: Ethnic Groups

Secondary information

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