The Herald on Sunday this week reported that “more than 300 scientists are calling for the Scottish Government ... to resist attempts from campaigners to change the guidance or question around sex” in next year’s census. The call was made…
Author: Kath Murray
MBM statement on the Hate Crime and Public Order Bill
Today MSPs are likely to pass into law one of the most contentious pieces of legislation considered in the lifetime of the Scottish Parliament. Last May, we wrote of our surprise that such controversial proposals – which did not feature…
Read More MBM statement on the Hate Crime and Public Order Bill
MBM review of the ONS paper ‘Methodology for decision making on the 2021 Census sex question concept and associated guidance’
MBM review of the ONS paper ‘Methodology for decision making on the 2021 Census sex question concept and associated guidance’ Less than six weeks before the date of the 2021 census in England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics…
Time to fight for the principle of collecting data on biological sex
Today, the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) has published draft guidance entitled ‘Collecting and reporting data about sex in official statistics’. The guidance sets out what producers should consider when collecting and reporting data about sex, to meet the expected…
Read More Time to fight for the principle of collecting data on biological sex
Was the sex question in the 2011 census ‘self-identified’?
1. Introduction Less than six weeks before the date of the 2021 census in England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the guidance which will accompany the compulsory sex question. The guidance is of critical importance…
Read More Was the sex question in the 2011 census ‘self-identified’?
Debate or no debate
Tomorrow the Justice Committee was due to debate a range of amendments seeking to strengthen the protection for freedom of expression in the Hate Crime and Public Order Bill (background here). This afternoon the Cabinet Secretary for Justice announced on Twitter…
Hate Crime and Public Order Bill: Stage 2 Briefing. The need for tailored freedom of expression protection for transgender identity
Hate Crime and Public Order Bill: Stage 2 Briefing. The need for tailored freedom of expression protection for transgender identity. The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill proposes to introduce stirring up hatred offences for all the protected characteristics…
Protecting Freedom of Expression: When less is less
The Justice Committee will start to consider potential amendments to Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill on Tuesday 2 February. How many more sittings there are will depend on how much time the Committee decides it needs to consider…
Read More Protecting Freedom of Expression: When less is less
Discontinuity in the UK censuses on the definition of sex
As reported in the Sunday Times (24 January 2021), the Chief Statistician Sir Ian Diamond has stated that the sex question in the forthcoming census in England and Wales will be framed in terms of legal sex, although it should…
Read More Discontinuity in the UK censuses on the definition of sex
The inclusion of ‘cross-dressers’ under the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill
During the Stage 1 oral evidence sessions on the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, the definition of ‘transgender identity’ was discussed. This briefing traces how ‘cross-dressers’ came to be included within the definition of transgender identity in the…
Read More The inclusion of ‘cross-dressers’ under the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill
