Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Articles (Scotland) Bill: equality impact assessment

Stage 4: Decision making and monitoring

Identifying and establishing any required mitigating action

If, following the impact analysis, you think you have identified any unlawful discrimination – direct or indirect - you must consider and set out what action will be undertaken to mitigate the negative impact. You will need to consult your legal team in SGLD at this point if you have not already done so.

Have positive or negative impacts been identified for any of the equality groups?

Yes. Positive impacts have been identified for age, disability, pregnancy and maternity and sex characteristics.

Is the policy directly or indirectly discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010^[10]?

No

If the policy is indirectly discriminatory, how is it justified under the relevant legislation?

No

If not justified, what mitigating action will be undertaken?

No

Describing how Equality Impact analysis has shaped the policy making process

The EQIA process has helped to strengthen our commitment to reduce the negative impact of firework use and to ensure that fireworks are used safely and appropriately. We focused on evidence and analysis from the consulations held in 2019 and 2021, and related analytical work, which found that groups most likely to be positively affected from safer use of fireworks and pyrotechnics include:

• people with mental health conditions and/or neurodivergent conditions who are more sensitive to loud bangs and flashes.
• Pregnant women who are more sensitive to loud bangs during their pregnancy.
• Young people who are more likely to be harmed, or to cause harm by fireworks.
• Men who are more likely to be harmed, or to cause harm by fireworks and pyrotechnics.

This EQIA will be published alongside any legislation that is introduced into the Scottish Parliament in relation to the policy proposals described above.