Scottish Government

Minutes - 25th May 2005, Victoria Quay 2-F62

Present:

• Julie Bright - Office of the Chief Statistician
• Charles Brown - Office of the Chief Statistician
• Alison Colvine Equality Unit (Minutes)
• Lesley Irving - Equality Unit (Chair)
• Joan Jamieson - Information and Statistics Division
• Louise McAspurren - Social Research (Equalities)

Apologies:

• Colin Fischbacher - ISD Scotland
• Ian Mate - General Register Office for Scotland (Census)
• Richard Morrison - General Register Office for Scotland (Census)
• Chris Oswald - Commission for Racial Equality

1. Introductions

The chair opened the meeting and thanked everyone for attending.

2. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting on 21 March 2005 were agreed as a correct record of proceedings.

3. Matters Arising

Actions 1 - 4: completed

4. Update on research findings

The Minister has cleared the research reports and both have been to sent to the printer. The reports will be released on the same day as the consultation paper (23rd June).

There was some feedback on the seminar held on 14 April which looked at interim research findings. The seminar was well attended and participants made a number of useful suggestions which have fed into the consultation paper. Hard copies of seminar proceedings have been sent to all participants and the report will also be available on the internet soon.

5. Update on consultation paper

The group had all been sent a copy of the consultation paper. Discussion focused on the breakdown of questions for ethnicity. Discussion has been grouped into the following sections - suggestions for drafting, general comments and dissemination of the consultation paper.

Suggestions for drafting

• The format of the questions needs to be simiplified given the complex subject matter
• A glossary needs to be included
• There should be further explanation about what is meant by data users and data providers
• Consider whether to alphabeticise options in lists?
• Currently question 2 offers an option for colour or discrimination, it was suggested that this should not be on option. It should be noted that GROS will also conduct further consult work on the discrimination question
• It was suggested that the question on religion should come before questions on ethnicity (this was the format in the 2001 Census)
• The "other" option provides examples of some groups stated in the 2001 census, the examples should include "Jewish"
• It costs £2 million per column in the census, this information should be included in the consultation paper
• There was some concern about the current format of the language question. The intention is to monitor the Gaelic language. Research participants said this question should be expanded to cover community languages. We will include a consultation question which looks at expanding the language question. It was noted that research on Translation and Interpretation Services will be published shortly
• A definition of "family descent" should be included in the consultation paper. We should include a question on to gauge whether family descent is the most appropriate term to use.

General comments

• There are not too many questions and salient points are covered
• Questions were raised about the options for country of birth as the 2001 Census questions covers the UK only.
• It is important that the CRE comment on the questions by 31 May (they have said final comments will be in by then)
• Currently the questions are census focused, we need to look at use for other surveys.

Dissemination of the consultation paper

• It is important that the paper is distributed as widely as possible
• OCS and EU have developed a distribution list with over 400 names
• Joan Jamieson has developed a database of stakeholder groups and will send the link to the consultation paper out to them
• The News Release will help generate publicity for the consultation exercise

Julie asked Joan to go through questions 1-5 to ascertain if they could be adapted for work. Joan pointed out that the questions on religion and language were of particular importance.

6. Next Steps

A draft of the final report will be sent for comment on Tuesday 31 May, close of play. The report will be sent to the Minister for Communities and Minister for Finance and Public Sector Reform for approval on Wednesday 1st June.

A wide consultation/mailing list has been prepared but OCS will also check the Scottish Executive Consultation alert service - CRES, to see who will receive an automatic alert of the consultation. In terms of publicity, a joint news release will be prepared. Alison will set up a meeting with Press Office to look at how to take this forward.

After the consultation paper has issued OCS, EU and Social Research will prepare a draft specification for consultation analysis.

Action 1: Charles to send final draft report out by Wednesday 25 May 2005

Action 2: Charles to ensure consultation will appear on the CRES system

Action 3: Alison to set up meeting with Press Office to discuss News Release

Action 4: OCS, EU and Social Research to draft specification for consultation analysis

7. Date of Next Meeting

As the consultation closes in 15 September, the next meeting will be held at the end of September. OCS will contact members to set a date.

Action 5: Charles to contact members to set up meeting at end of September

OCS are meeting with IGDRE the National Statistics Working Group on Ethnicity and Identity (NSWGEI) and Inter-Departmental Group on Race Equality (IDGRE) Technical Working Group (IDGRE TWG) Inter-Departmental Group on Race Equality and ONS on Thursday 26 May.

The Census test for England and Wales is in 2007. Drafting work is only starting on the question for ethnicity.

Alison Colvine

Equality Unit

Area 2-F Bridge

Victoria Quay