Heat networks target 2035 consultation: child rights and wellbeing screening

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

The Articles of the UNCRC and the child wellbeing indicators under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 apply to all children and young people up to the age of 18, including non-citizen and undocumented children and young people.

While the Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill was being developed, an EQIA (Equalities impact assessment) was conducted, identifying that the Bill’s provisions were unlikely to affect different age groups, and where they would the focus was predominantly on older people. Policy proposals were also reviewed against the Articles of the UNCRC (UN Convention on the Rights of Children) and the child wellbeing indicators under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. It was concluded that there were no specific aspects of the Bill which would impact children and young people.

However, the aim to increase heat network deployment across Scotland can stimulate change in the technology used to supply heat to some households. Some of the buildings affected by the change may be occupied by families with children and young people. Additionally, some of the public buildings such as schools or hospitals may also be connected to the networks. It is likely therefore, that the buildings which are occupied or used by children or young people may have different heating systems in the future and at the point of change of those heating systems there may be disruption to those building users.