Public procurement strategy: Fairer Scotland duty assessment

Stage 2: Data and evidence gathering, involvement and consultation for Fairer Scotland Assessment

Theme : Business & their employees

Strategy Topics:

Innovation and Entrepreneurial Activity

Evidence:

Entrepreneurial Activity was highest for those in the 2nd Quintile, and lowest for those in the 5th (least deprived) quintile.

• The pattern of entrepreneurial activity across SIMD quintiles has fluctuated in recent years.
• In 2020, total early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) was 6.6% in the 20% least deprived areas, and was 7.6% in the 20% most deprived areas.

When tracked by quintile, participation in unpaid help to organisations follows directly proportionate relationship with income (for period 2013-2019).

Sources:

UK GEM report 2019 (enterpriseresearch.ac.uk)

Scottish household survey 2019: annual report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Theme: Places & Communities

Strategy Topics:

Supporting a sustainability built environment

Evidence:

Adults in the most deprived areas live further away from their nearest green or blue space:

• In 2019, a similar proportion of adults in the 20% most deprived areas and 20% least deprived areas of Scotland reported living 11 minutes or more walk from their nearest green or blue space (both 13%)

Adults living in the most deprived areas less likely to visit the outdoors:

• In 2019, 43% of adults in the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland visited the outdoors at least once a week, compared to 66% of adults in the 20% least deprived areas.

Sources:

Scottish household survey 2019: annual report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Strategy Topics:

Community Participation

Evidence:

• The participation rate for young people (16-19 year olds) from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland has increased over the past years, from 83.3% in 2015/16 to 87.1% in 2020/21.
• Meanwhile, the participation rate for young people living in the 20% least deprived areas of Scotland has remained stable at about 96%

Sources:

Annual Participation Measure | Skills Development Scotland

Strategy Topics:

Climate Crisis and Environment

Evidence:

Adults in the most deprived areas are less likely to view climate change as an immediate and urgent problem

The proportion of adults viewing climate change as an immediate and urgent problem in 2019 was highest amongst those with degree level qualifications (80%) and lowest for those with no qualifications (49%).

Sources:

Scottish household survey 2019: annual report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Theme: Society

Emergency Situations

Data available on i) inequalities of effects of COVID pandemic, including socio-economic inequalities, and ii) public response and funding to COVID pandemic including on procurement (eg at the link for NHS procurement). No data identified to analyse the connection between i) and ii)

Health inequality and COVID-19 in Scotland | Scottish Parliament

The 2020/21 audit of NHS National Services Scotland - Response to Covid-19 pandemic (audit-scotland.gov.uk)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support funding statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Food security

Data available on food security indicated patterns of deprivation but not a clear link to public sector procurement

Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2017-20 (data.gov.scot)

Summary

Available data focusses on domestic rather than business usage:

Some indication of lower connection infrastructure eg broadband in rural areas

rural+deprivation+evidence+review.pdf (www.gov.scot)