This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Spotlight on ethnic origin in census report
09/02/2004
Scotland's ethnic population mix was put under the
microscope today, as a
detailed analysis of data from the 2001 Census was
published.
Information on ethnic group was collected as part of the
2001 Census in Scotland, representing the first large-scale
collection of data on ethnicity in Scotland for a decade.
The profile of the country's minority ethnic population
will help to promote equal opportunities and paint a more
detailed picture of where inequalities may lie.
Minister for Communities, Margaret Curran welcomed
publication of the analysis, saying:
"This report provides us with vital insight into the
situation facing minority ethnic communities in Scotland.
The Executive is committed to promoting equal opportunities
and information like this paints a more detailed picture of
where inequalities may lie.
"The findings reinforce the need for work to continue to
promote equality and the report will certainly inform
future policy work in this field."
The report was published by the Scottish Executive's
Office of the Chief Statistician to encourage discussion by
highlighting differentials between ethnic groups.
Key findings from the study show that:
* Minority ethnic groups have a much younger age
profile than white groups.
* There are large differences between ethnic groups
in the proportion of people who live in owned homes.
* Minority ethnic people living in rented
accommodation are much less likely to live in social rented
accommodation than white people.
* Large differences exist between ethnic groups'
educational qualifications.
The Executive is today holding a seminar with race
equality specialists to discuss the findings and to
initiate debate on the key issues.
The 2001 Census in Scotland, which was carried out by
the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS), published
information according to the following ethnic origin
categories: White Scottish; Other White British; White
Irish; Other White; Indian; Pakistani; Bangladeshi; Other
South Asian; Chinese; Caribbean; African; Black Scottish or
Other Black; Any Mixed Background; Other Ethnic Groups.
It also posed a voluntary question on religious
affiliation to which only 5.5 percent of respondents
declined to answer.
General information on the 2001 Census in Scotland can
be found on the GROS website. Please click on
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/grosweb/grosweb.nsf/pages/censushm.
The seminar was held this morning at the Scottish
Executive, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, involving
representatives of race equality groups including the
Commission for Racial Equality.
The second phase of the Scottish Executive's anti-racism
campaign "One Scotland, Many Cultures" will be launched on
16 February 2004. The aim of the campaign is to raise
awareness of racist attitudes and behaviour and highlight
the negative impact this has on individuals and
communities. It highlights the positive features of
diversity as well as tackling negative behaviour. For more
information about the campaign, please click on
http://www.onescotland.com