Consultation on standards for ethnicity data

The Race Disparity Unit (RDU) has today launched a public consultation on a set of data standards for ethnicity. This work is to address a commitment in the Inclusive Britain Action Plan. When published, the standards will ensure more responsible and accurate reporting of ethnicity data.

Why are we developing data standards for ethnicity data?

It can be difficult to collect ethnicity data. Asking people about their ethnicity is a sensitive topic. It can be more complicated than asking them about their age or country of birth, for example. Ethnicity is a self-defined and subjective concept. Everyone has their own view about their own ethnicity.

Someone might base their ethnicity on a combination of factors including:

• country of birth
• nationality
• language
• skin colour
• religion

Drawing conclusions from unreliable ethnicity data might also be difficult. The data might be based on a sample of a small number of people. It might not be comparable over time. People might also have different uses for ethnicity data.

Reporting data on ethnic minorities should also be:

• sensitive — for example, using the right language
• accurate — for example, describing what the data shows
• responsible — for example, not using comparisons that might be misleading

By consulting on the standards we can be sure they cover the important aspects of ethnicity data quality.

Then people using the standards can overcome difficulties in collecting, analysing and reporting ethnicity data and improve its quality.

Improved data will help government and other organisations develop effective policies that address disparities between ethnic groups. The standards can also help maintain public trust in the data and improve the quality of public debate.

Who the standards are for

The standards apply to people in government departments or public bodies who are:

• collecting data about people’s ethnicity — for example, in surveys
• analysing differences between ethnic groups
• publishing ethnicity data — for example, in statistical releases

But they might also be useful to other people outside of the public sector who collect or use ethnicity data.

What are we asking about?

We are asking for feedback on 3 areas:

1. The online consultation has a set of draft standards for ethnicity data. It asks you to read them and tell us whether you think they cover the main aspects of data quality. If you think there is something missing then we would love to hear about that.

2. We plan to monitor the impact and use of the standards in collaboration with the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). The consultation asks for your views on that.

3. Finally, the consultation asks for your views on whether we should develop similar standards about data for other personal characteristics.

We encourage you to provide your views through the consultation website.

You can also contact us if you have any queries about this work.