Bankruptcy and Debt Arrangement Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023: equality impact assessment

Executive summary

The public sector equality duty requires the Scottish Government to assess the impact of applying a proposed new or revised policy or practice. Equality legislation covers the protected characteristics of: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, sex, sexual orientation and religion and belief.

This Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) has considered the potential impacts of the Bankruptcy and Debt Arrangement Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 on each of the protected characteristics. The provisions and how they impact on people across the protected characteristics are set out under the key findings.

There have been no negative impacts identified for any of the equality groups and the measures included have not been assessed as directly or indirectly discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010. The changes introduced are primarily associated with reducing cost and improving accessibility to debt relief for the most financially vulnerable. Bankruptcy and the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) are accessible to all, irrespective of their age, race, gender, disability or sexual orientation.