The UK Statistics Authority has said that a new “search-as-you-type” facility on the online form for the 2021 Census will allow anyone to identify as being of any particular ethnic identity, including Sikh.
It comes after over 100 British MPs, including Indian-origin lawmakers, asked the authority to include ‘Sikh’ as a separate ethnic box for the 2021 census; which will list it as a distinct ethnicity, rather than only as a religion, although this is not what has been taken forward.
In the 2011 census, many Sikhs refused to tick any of the choices in the question on ethnicity, rejecting options such as ‘Indian’ in order to write ‘Sikh’ in the ‘any other ethnic group’ space.
Under the UK’s Race Relations Act 1976 Sikhs are a legally recognised ethnic group and campaigners for the change believe this gives them a right to be able to identify themselves separately from current census options, such as Indian or British Indian.
National Statistician John Pullinger said: “The recommendations fully recognise the need for good data on the Sikh community, both in terms of the need for high quality data from the census and also wider across all public services.
“Everyone who wishes to identify as Sikh will be able to do so.”
ONS will also utilise the Digital Economy Act 2017 to help ensure data on the Sikh population is available across public services – not just census collected data. ONS is committed to working with departments across government to make sure this happens on an on-going basis.
ONS will also update guidance to public bodies highlighting their duties to record information on the Sikh community and has offered to provide analysis to local authorities to help them better serve the different communities in their areas.
