Equal Opportunities Committee, 14 Mar 2000

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 14, 2000

Official Report 244KB pdf

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2001 Census

We now move on to item 5. Everybody should have a copy of the consultation document. I have written to the Deputy Minister for Social Inclusion, Housing and the Voluntary Sector, suggesting that we should have a longer time scale for consultation because of the timing of our committee meetings. Jackie Baillie has committed herself to allowing us a few extra days on it.

Everybody has a copy of the document. Prior to the committee meeting, I received a letter from Daniel Mulhall of the consulate general of Ireland, and a note from the Commission for Racial Equality—not its final response—on the question. I know that members do not have those documents, but are there any comments on the material that you have?

The consulate general of Ireland expressed disappointment that an Irish category was not included in the Scottish census, even though it is included on the census for England and Wales. That matter was raised earlier in the committee's discussions. I am sure that the committee would support that.

I have had a few letters about language, but that is not what we are discussing.

Language has been dealt with—we are going to be consulted about questions in the boosted household survey. When we are consulted on that, members can bring up letters and comments on language. At the moment I would like to focus on the consultation on the questions on religion and ethnicity.

Perhaps we could add an income bracket to the religion question.

If you could think of a question that could fit in with that, I am sure that we could agree to it—but I think it is unlikely.

We have about a week to frame a response. Perhaps we could draft something and e-mail it to members. Any comments could be sent to me after that. We have agreed that we would like an Irish category included in the ethnicity question.

Did the consulate general realise that there was a question about country of birth, which covers the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland?

Yes.

They do not think that that covers it?

No. The letter says that

"the exclusion of an Irish category seems questionable . . . Many people in Scotland descended from Irish immigrants would now choose to classify themselves as Irish".

I can include that in the response that I e-mail round for comment by members. Is everyone happy with that?

Members indicated agreement.