What reason did the ONS use for NOT asking under 16s the gender identity question?

[Leafstamp]

I instinctively "know" the answer, but did the ONS ever explain exactly why they didn't?

The reason I'm asking is that my child has recently been asked to fill in a form, which asks for their gender (and whether this matches their birth sex). I want to object to this, but could do with some evidence.

Good question. I don't know. Was it added with the sexuality question? It could be that because it would be inappropriate to ask that of under 16s they made both just for adults? Did parliament agree the new questions?

I recently had to fill in a form for my 15 year old, they asked gender but then preferred pronouns, I told her I had put "princess lala of lala land" I don't think she even mustered an eyeroll.

I think they said that this info from under 16s would be of "low quality".
Which to me reads: not reliable as they are fickle and will probably change their minds soon.

Who knows, maybe because they know it would cause an explosion in the number of trans/NB ‘identifying’ people?

I wondered this too.