Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill Equality Impact Assessment

Monitoring and Review

Further consideration and equality impact assessment will be undertaken when developing future policy options for secondary legalisation proposals and subsequent Scottish Statutory Instruments (SSIs) required to delivery support schemes, in due course. These subsequent consideration will take due consideration of, and report on, on equalities information, including age, sex, gender, etc. The Scottish Government will keep these impacts under review during the future development period.

Payments Framework

No impacts have been identified regarding the broadly framed enabling powers set out in the Bill.

Food and Drink

No impacts have been identified in relation to the food and drink support provisions in the Bill.

Climate and nature

No impacts have been identified regarding the broadly framed enabling powers set out in the Bill. We will continue to view policy development in this area through an equalities lens and ensure that we fully consider the impact of people with protected characteristics.

Payments Administration & Data

No impacts have been identified regarding the broadly framed enabling powers set out in the Bill. The Payments Administration and data powers contained in the Bill will enable Ministers to create a framework for the enforcing, monitoring and evaluation of progress towards achieving the objectives of the Vision and the bill. They do not impact on any protected characteristics.

Support for Rural Communities and Rural Networking

We will continue to monitor for impacts on people with protected characteristics.

Animal Health, Welfare and Genetic Resources

Impacts will be monitored during the development and implementation of policies that will be developed using the powers available in the Bill.

Plant genetic resources

No impacts have been identified regarding the broadly framed enabling powers set out in the Bill and therefore this element will not be reviewed. When support is planned, this will be considered.

Access

No impacts have been identified regarding the broadly framed enabling powers set out in the Bill.

Forestry

No impacts have been identified regarding the powers within this Bill. Enabling powers provided by this Bill will ensure that, as far as possible, the status-quo is retained and forestry grant payments can continue. Due to this there is not likely to be any short term change in rules or administration relating to the FGS and therefore there will be neither a positive or negative impact on any persons with protected characteristics.

Information on the impacts on protected characteristics will be gathered during the development of EQIAs specific to each policy area when drafting secondary legislation, where applicable.

Knowledge, innovation, education and training

We will continue to monitor for impacts on people with protected characteristics during the development and implementation of policies that will be developed using the powers available in the Bill.