London: A census being held this year in Britain will ask people about their gender identity for the first time, the country's national statistician said on Friday.
The census, which will be held on March 21 in all regions except Scotland, will include the question after asking for people's legal sex, Professor Sir Ian Diamond told BBC radio.
"We will be asking for the first time a voluntary question later in the questionnaire about gender identity," he said, specifying that this will only apply to people over 16.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published a recommended question which asks whether a person's gender identity is the same as their legal sex, and if not, asks them to enter what it is.