The move follows all MSPs being invited to complete and return a short survey about their sex and, as appropriate, trans status.
A copy of the communications issued to all MSPs this afternoon is below.
Email: Update on MSP diversity survey for the Parliament’s website and wider reporting
Dear Members
I wrote to you on 1 June 2026 regarding the collection of MSPs’ diversity data.
You will recall the SPCB invited all MSPs to complete and return a short survey about their sex and, as appropriate, trans status.
As I explained, the data is intended for various purposes, including equalities monitoring. It will also assist with publication on the Parliament’s website and provide transparency for members of the public when seeking a particular representative.
Our approach followed specific recommendations from the Gender Sensitive Audit (A Parliament for All, March 2023) (“GSA”) for the collection and publication of diversity data. The GSA had cross-party support, with its recommendations endorsed by Parliament.
Publication of data
Initially, the SPCB set a deadline of 5 June for responses. This was subsequently extended to 23 June, with reminders issued to all. The SPCB said it would publish its collected diversity data before the end of June and re-instate web filters to the Parliament’s website.
Accordingly, I am writing to inform all MSPs that this has been done as of today.
It is a matter for individual Members to decide whether to respond to this diversity survey.
To date, a total of 62 MSPs have responded to our diversity survey. This includes a number who have opted not to consent to publication of their personal data.
Should any MSP still wish to complete and return the survey they are welcome to do so, and officials will update the data accordingly.
Search filters
Members of the public using the search functions and web filters will be able to see all data where consent to publication has been provided.
You can find the search functions on our website. You will see explanatory notes that confirm session 7 data can be filtered by sex and, where appropriate, by trans status. Where MSPs have not given consent, or not returned the survey, search returns on sex will say “Undisclosed”. Trans status categories will only appear in the dropdown if MSPs have provided consent for this status to be published. Data for previous sessions has been re-instated in its previous form.
Next steps
Despite cross-party agreement for the GSA, it is clear there is no consensus from all MSPs on how to fulfil its recommendations in practice.
It highlights the difficulty the Parliament will most likely have in publishing any further diversity data on other protected characteristics.
It makes tracking and addressing under-representation all the more difficult, despite the laudable recommendations of the Gender Sensitive Audit.
For now, all the survey responses received have been actioned by parliamentary officials.
Yours sincerely
Lorna Hunter
Director of People, Communications and Inclusion