The Sikh Federation (UK) will be releasing a report on Monday 1 February 2010 following research it commissioned on the selection of new ethnic groups for the Census 2011.

The investigative report provides evidence to show how the option of an ‘Arab’ category has been incorrectly favoured compared to other categories, including a ‘Sikh’ category.

The authors of the report allege a pre-determined outcome to include an ‘Arab’ category without sufficient evidence to support this conclusion.

The report emphasises a Sikh category has been overlooked despite Sikhs constituting one of very few legally recognised ethnic groups.

Parliament will in mid-February vote on the Regulation to approve the Census 2011 and in effect put a seal on the draft questionnaire.

The report proves the methodology used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) ignored the views of hundreds of Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum supporting the Sikh community in their demand and paid lip service to its own public consultation on the issue that showed considerable support for a separate Sikh category.  

Evidence is also presented in the report that shows ONS omitted vital information, misinterpreted other information it had available and did not fully consider other relevant evidence to arrive at accurate conclusions.

The Sikh Federation (UK) is calling on MPs and ONS to consider the findings and recommendations in the report relating to each aspect of the ONS methodology to select ethnic groups for the 2011 Census questionnaire and for ONS to urgently revisit its overall assessment in light of the report.

In the Federation’s opinion the report proposes the ONS gives the ‘Sikh’ category priority over the proposed ‘Arab’ category for the Census 2011 questionnaire.

The report suggests major flaws in the process to select ethnic groups for the 2011 Census questionnaire and raises wider issues of trust and the need for improved governance at ONS.

The Federation has also shared the report with lawyers to consider possible legal action. There is also talk of a call for a possible postponement in the 2011 Census; until trust in the process is restored, otherwise the information produced will not be a true reflection of British society or fit for purpose.  The latter would also save tens of millions of pounds during the economic downturn.

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