The national census of everyone in Scotland takes place every ten years - the next one is in 2011.

The Census in 2001 asked people about five of the seven characteristics now protected by anti-discrimination law: their age, disability, gender, race and religion. But it did not ask people about their sexual orientation or gender identity / gender reassignment.

The Equality Network believes that the next census should include a question on sexual orientation.

Statistical information on the numbers of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in each area of Scotland is needed so that employers and service providers can know from their own surveys whether they are discriminating on grounds of sexual orientation, and can plan services for LGB people. Not including a question on sexual orientation, when there are questions on five other characteristics, sends a message that sexual orientation equality does not matter as much as the others, or is too "difficult" or "embarassing" to deal with.

However, it is also very important to respect and ensure people's confidentiality.

In 2005, the Equality Network ran two small-scale surveys of LGBT people in Scotland, about whether there should be a question asking people's sexual orientation in the Census in 2011. In the first survey, 84% said there should be a question, and 12% opposed a question. In the second survey, we gave more details of how the Census operates, and asked whether people would be willing to reveal their sexual orientation in completing the Census. 88% said they would state their sexual orientation, and 8% said they would not.

These results helped to confirm our view that there should be a question on sexual orientation included in the 2011 Census. In our view, like the religion question, it should not be compulsory to answer the sexual orientation question. The question would not apply to people under 16 years old. Census results are kept strictly confidential for 100 years. The only information released publicly is statistical data from which it is impossible to identify any information about any individual.

The Census is conducted by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS), part of the Scottish Government. The Equality Network has been in discussion with GROS about a sexual orientation question since 2004. In 2005, GROS tested a sexual orientation question in a small-scale test of the 2011 Census, and published a report. However, GROS are currently opposed including the question in the actual Census. The Equality Network submitted a response to GROS's most recent consultation on the Census, in spring 2007.

In November 2008, we published a paper setting out in more detail our position on including a sexual orientation question in the census.

The final decision on whether to include a sexual orientation question in the 2011 Census will be taken by the Scottish Parliament, when it considers the legislation authorising the Census, in 2010.

We are not calling for a question on transgender identity in the 2011 Census. In our view, more work is needed to develop suitable questions, and to put in place better laws and policies to protect transgender people from discrimination, before it would be reasonable to ask such a question in the Census.