Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what evidence her Department uses to assess socioeconomic inequalities impacting Sikhs where Sikh-specific ethnicity data is unavailable.

The Treasury carefully considers the impact of its decisions on those sharing protected characteristics, including religion, in line with both its legal obligations and its commitment to fairness. The department uses the best available evidence to assess equalities impacts in each case.

The Government Statistical Service is undertaking an ongoing review of the harmonised standard for ethnicity data used across government. This work has included a now closed public consultation. The aim is to ensure that data collection is robust, consistent and reflects user and community needs.