Fair Work First - conditionality in public sector grants: business and regulatory impact assessment

8. Consumer Assessment

Consumer questions:

• Does the policy affect the quality, availability or price of any goods or services in a market?

Unclear. The policy may directly affect the pay of some members of staff within individual businesses in a range of markets, and indirectly affect broader pay policy within those businesses, should they choose to apply for Scottish public sector grants and not already be compliant. A further indirect effect of this may be on businesses’ hiring decisions, or pricing decisions at the margin.

Although some respondents to the engagement exercises with businesses expressed these concerns, it is not possible at this stage to ascertain the extent to which this would become manifest, and its scale and importance for the quality, availability or price of any goods or services in a market.

• Does the policy affect the essential services market, such as energy or water?

No. The policy does not affect the operation of the essential services market.

• Does the policy involve storage or increased use of consumer data?

No. The policy does not involve storage or increased use of consumer data.

• Does the policy increase opportunities for unscrupulous suppliers to target consumers?

No. This policy does not impact on these opportunities.

• Does the policy impact the information available to consumers on either goods or services, or their rights in relation to these?

No. there is no impact on information available to consumers as a result of this initiative.

• Does the policy affect routes for consumers to seek advice or raise complaints on consumer issues?

No. There is no impact on routes for consumers to seek advice or raise complaints on consumer issues.