Devolved Social Security benefits - debt recovery - transfer of jurisdiction: consultation

7. Impact Assessments

Business and Regulation

7.1 The Scottish Government is committed to consulting with all parties potentially affected by proposals for new legislation, or where legislation is being changed significantly.

7.2 A partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment BRIA (Annex A) has been prepared for the 'Transfer of jurisdiction of debt recovery from the sheriff court to the First-tier Tribunal'.

7.3 We would welcome comments on whether there are any costs and benefits

that are not captured in the analysis; please provide supporting evidence.

7.4 Respondents are also asked to consider if there is any additional information that would enhance the BRIA; please provide supporting evidence.

Question 4. What are your views on the overall costs and benefits identified in the Impact Assessment?

Equality

7.5 The Scottish Government is committed to promoting equality and removing or minimising disadvantage which may be experienced by different groups of people.

We have a legal duty to consider the impact of policies on people who may be

differently affected in relation to the 'protected characteristics' under the Equality

Act 2010. The protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Question 5. Please tell us about any potential equality impacts, either positive or negative, that you consider the proposals in this consultation may have, with reference to the 'protected characteristics' listed above. Please be as specific as possible.

Child Rights and Wellbeing

7.6 The Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA) is used to identify, research, analyse and record the impact of a proposed law or policy on children's human rights and wellbeing. CRWIA helps us to consider whether the Scottish Government is advancing the rights of children in Scotland and protecting and promoting the wellbeing of children and young people

Question 6. Are there any aspects of a child's rights or wellbeing that you think might be affected either positively or negatively by the proposals covered in this consultation?

Island Communities Impact Assessment

7.7 An Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) is carried out when a policy, strategy or service is likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities). An ICIA ensures equity for island communities so that the needs of island communities are considered.

Question 7. Are there any aspects of the proposal covered in this consultation that you think will either act positively or negatively on an island community?