Coronavirus Acts: ninth report to Scottish Parliament (October 2021)

3. Scottish Government approach to reporting

3.1. In continuing to review and develop the Government's approach to reporting, it has been recognised that some measures in the legislation may have greater impact than others on individuals or groups (people with one or more of the protected characteristics listed in the Equality Act 2010), or more generally on equality and human rights. In assessing the equality impact of the measures the Scottish Government has considered the measures in light of the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not, and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Public authorities are required to regularly publish equality information under the Scottish specific duties (including a new set of equality outcomes, pay gap information and equal pay statements). The Scottish Government last reported March 2021^[1].

3.2. We have in this reporting period continued to reflect on the views and publications of key stakeholders with an interest in the areas of human rights, children's rights and equality impacts. The Scottish Government consideration of views includes those of the British Institute of Human Rights, the Scottish Human Rights Commission and the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland.

3.3. The approach to reporting on these impacts will be kept under review in line with legislation and in response to the views of the Scottish Parliament.