Public procurement strategy: Fairer Scotland duty assessment

Annex: list of resources used

Source:

National Poverty and income inequality statistics

Evidence gathered and strength/quality of evidence:

Data on:

• Poverty
• Child poverty
• Income inequality statistics
• Poverty rates

All categorised by equality characteristics

Data gaps identified and action taken:

Gaps here were filled by review of the other data sources listed in this annex, particularly the Child Poverty Analysis and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

Source:

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

Evidence gathered and strength/quality of evidence:

Relative measure of deprivation across 6,976 small areas with files tools maps and analysis, deprived across:

• Income
• Employment
• Education
• Health
• Access to services
• Crime
• Housing

Also includes analysis of small area income estimates, working poverty, and housing and fuel poverty.

Data gaps identified and action taken:

Gaps here were filled by review of the other data sources listed in this annex, particularly the Child Poverty Analysis and National Poverty and income inequality statistics

Source:

Child Poverty Analysis

Evidence gathered and strength/quality of evidence:

Four income-based targets to reduce child poverty in Scotland by 2030:

• Relative poverty
• Absolute poverty
• Combined low income and material deprivation
• Persistent poverty

Data gaps identified and action taken:

Gaps here were filled by review of the other data sources listed in this annex particularly the National Poverty and income inequality statistics and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

Source:

National Wealth Statistics

Evidence gathered and strength/quality of evidence:

Data on personal wealth

• Financial wealth
• Property wealth
• Private pension savings
• Physical wealth

Data gaps identified and action taken:

Gaps here were filled by review of the other data sources listed in this annex.

Source:

Equalities Evidence Finder

Evidence gathered and strength/quality of evidence:

Data explorer includes information on socio-economic status across wide range of characteristics, some with implications for procurement or end-use of public spending eg entrepreneurial activity, quality of public services, satisfaction with housing.

Data gaps identified and action taken:

Gaps here were filled by review of the other data sources listed in this annex.

Source:

Public Procurement Survey of Suppliers

Evidence gathered and strength/quality of evidence:

Gathers views and experiences of suppliers to Scottish public procurement

pool of suppliers interested in Scottish public sector contracts. Findings include:

• Suppliers are generally well-equipped to bid for and deliver contracts
• public bodies are performing less well to encourage innovation
• Suppliers often encounter a range of difficulties – in particular, many view the tendering process as overly-complex, burdensome and in need of simplification and streamlining
• There are heightened difficulties for SMEs third sector organisations, sole traders and local firms
• Late payment represents an important concern for sub-contractors
• Take-up of Various mechanisms for suppliers to receive training largely because suppliers were unaware that such training is available

Data gaps identified and action taken:

Gaps in data here were filled by engaging with PSG members, and holding a BSA roundtable that focused on Strategy content with different supplier present.

Source:

Social Enterprise Survey 2019

Evidence gathered and strength/quality of evidence:

Detailed profile of social enterprise activity, includes:

• Composition of the sector
• Geographic coverage
• Markets
• Business practices
• Financial Performances
• Contribution to Scotland

Data gaps identified and action taken:

Gaps in data here were filled by engaging with Social Enterprise Scotland one to one and through their PSG representative.

Source:

Third sector and new business experiences of procurement

Evidence gathered and strength/quality of evidence:

Defines and details key factors enabling Third sector and new business engagement with public procurement:

• Simple, consistent tendering processes with proportionate terms and conditions
• Capacity building and effective training and advice for suppliers
• Strong relationships between buyers and suppliers
• Lotting of contracts
• Effective use of Quick Quotes and Framework Agreements
• Effective use of Quick Quotes and Framework Agreements
• Relevant and timely feedback
• Independent appeals process for lower value contract
• Other improvements that would support better access to public procurement

Data gaps identified and action taken:

The barriers to engagement were considered, with gaps filled by engaging with Third Sector, SME and Voluntary reps for the PSG.