Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 111 of his Department's annual report and accounts 2025 to 2026, HC 424,published on 15 July 2026, what is the methodological definition of a diverse ethnic background; and whether this includes (a) white Irish and (b) white Travellers.

HM Treasury's definition of diverse ethnic background includes ethnicities in the following categories: Mixed / Multiple ethnic groups, Asian/Asian British, Black/African/Caribbean/Black British, and Other ethnic groups, as defined in the Government Statistical Service's (GSS) Harmonised Standards.

The GSS does not define a formal category of "diverse ethnic background"; ethnicity is a self-reported characteristic based on the standard ethnic group classifications. Under the GSS standard, White Irish and White Travellers falls within the White ethnic group.