Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment

What aspects of the policy/measure will affect children and young people up to the age of 18?

The ‘Delivering our Vision for Scottish Agriculture: Proposals for a new Agriculture Bill’ included a question to assist in determining the extent and level of EQIA required such as:

“Are you aware of any examples of particular current or future impacts, positive or negative, on young people, of any aspect of the proposals in this consultation? Could any improvements be made?”

The results of this engagement is that it has not highlighted any potential negative impacts that the Bill itself and the initiatives and policies covered within may have on certain groups. This has allowed any negative impacts to be considered thoroughly and ensured steps were taken to mitigate these. However, as the Bill is largely enabling it will have limited impact on children. As such, minimal assessment is required at this stage, but the Scottish Government will ensure the teams working on future policy changes are aware of the need to consult/further assess where appropriate. This will include children and young people up to the age of 18.

There are 7 records identified from RP&S of individuals under the age of 18 years that are head of business and/or livestock keepers.

Payments Framework

There are not considered to be specific impacts on children as a result of this policy. These enabling powers in the Bill and proposals will not have specific impacts on children as these powers relate to operational delivery rather than policy and any change will be delayed until the secondary legislation is introduced and implemented later on.

Food and Drink

The policy will not directly affect children and young people but there will be positive impacts for communities if support for businesses provides the potential for economic stability and growth, and jobs.

Climate and Nature

The policy will not directly affect children and young people, although there are long term positive impacts for future generations and communities though tackling the twin crises of climate and nature.

Payments Administration & Data

The broadly framed enabling powers set out in the Bill allow for the Scottish Ministers to make regulations about (1) the provision of support to assist the creation of the new payment framework for the administration of payments and (2) the provision for the collection, processing and or sharing of data where that is necessary to ensure effective governance. These regulations and powers will enable the Scottish Ministers to enforce , monitor and evaluate progress to achieving the objectives of the bill and the Vision. These enabling powers in the Bill and proposals will not have specific impacts on children as these powers relate to operational delivery rather than policy and any change will be delayed until the secondary legislation is introduced and implemented later on.

Support for Rural Communities and Rural Networking

No impacts identified regarding the broadly framed enabling powers set out in the Bill. However, if any changes to policy that implements these powers are identified in the future, then a CRWIA may need to be completed on them to assess specific impact. Any such changes are presently unknown and we would therefore be unable to assess at this stage.

Animal Health, Welfare and Genetic Resources

The policies will not directly affect children and young people. However there will be positive medium and long term impacts of policies through contributions to delivery of the Vision for Agriculture and the Climate Change Plan.

Plant Genetic Resources

The bill gives the power for Ministers to give support to holders of plant genetic resources. This is felt important as plant breeding adapts to increasing challenges from climate change. These resources allow us to retain important traits which could mean fewer inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides or to breed plants which can thrive in a changing environment. This can only have a positive impact on children as it provides a resource to help preserve resources, whilst continuing to provide nutritious food.

Access

The policy will not have any specific impact on children and young people, but will have overall positive impacts by virtue of enabling assistance to improve public access.

Forestry

The intention in the short term will be to retain, so far as possible, the status-quo and therefore there is no likelihood of any impact overall and therefore, by extension, children and young people.

Potential impacts will be monitored when developing secondary legislation and a Childs Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment carried out if significant impacts are identified.

Knowledge, innovation, education and training

No direct impacts identified as the policy will be delivered through secondary legislation. While much of the proposals in secondary legislation will affect farmers, crofters and others over the age of 18 years, provision could be made for those under the age of 18, through for example, a range of activities provided by the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS), Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and for example the setting of specific policies including apprenticeships in agriculture. All of these initiatives This would be a positive development in providing them with skills and knowledge.