Will the next census merge stats on traditional marriage and same-sex marriage?
Jun 22, 2016
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) doesn’t have a 100 per cent track record with stats on marriage. In 2013 the ONS was considering airbrushing traditional marriage out of its records, but after C4M supporters responded, it changed tack.
Now, as it works on the next census, the statistics group has suggested that another change might be on the way.
In its summary of responses to a consultation on the nation’s questionnaire, the ONS states that following the introduction of same-sex marriage it will review and potentially revise the question about marriage.
It states: “The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 has been introduced since the 2011 Census. The marital status response categories and question design will be reviewed and revised if appropriate to reflect these changes.”
After the last issue prompted a climbdown, maybe the statistics organisation will have learnt its lesson and will allow millions of people to say they are married to a person of the opposite sex.
We’ll be sure to let you know.
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“I support defining marriage as the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.”