Disability Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023: island communities impact assessment

Executive Summary

5. This ICIA has considered the potential effects of the Disability Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 and how they impact on people living in island communities. The findings here are based on desk research, engagement with and feedback from disabled people with lived experience of the current social security system^[3], and the Consultation on Disability Assistance. This ran between 5 March and 28 May 2019 and received 262 replies, of which 74 were from stakeholder organisations and 188 were from individuals.^[4]

6. This in turn led to targeted consultation with stakeholders representing people with protected characteristics which was undertaken during the consultation period in 2019, including disabled people from island and remote communities. This has helped to inform our understanding of the impact of these regulations on disabled individuals in these communities.

7. We have concluded that there will not be any new unique impacts on remote and islands communities as a result of the provisions in these Regulations, nor will there be a specific financial impact for island communities in isolation resulting from the provisions. Positive impacts on disabled children and young people identified are expected to have a similar impact on remote and island communities as the rest of Scotland.