Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill: EQIA

Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to age.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

X

There could potentially be positive and negative impacts on older people. The evidence suggests that older people spend more prolonged periods of time in their home and that heat networks can provide energy savings.

However, disruption can be caused in the home or in the surrounding area when heat networks are being installed.

Promoting good relations among and between different age groups

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between different age groups.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to disability.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

X

There could potentially be positive and negative impacts on people with disabilities. Disabled people may spend significant amounts of time at home and evidence shows that heat networks can provide energy savings.

However, disruption can be caused in the home or in the surrounding area when heat networks are being installed.

Promoting good relations among and between disabled and non-disabled people

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between disabled and non-disabled people.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to gender.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

The evidence shows that households headed by women are more likely to be experiencing fuel poverty than those headed by men. For women (and men) living in fuel poverty, potential energy savings from having a heat network installed in the home would bring about a positive impact.

Promoting good relations between men and women

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between men and woman.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to pregnancy and maternity.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

The Scottish Government is unaware of any relevant and existing evidence, at this time, on pregnancy and maternity in relation to the policy. The consultation did not suggest that any disproportionate effects will be had by pregnant women.

Promoting good relations

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between pregnant woman and other people.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to gender reassignment.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

The Scottish Government is unaware of any relevant and existing evidence, at this time, on the gender reassignment protected characteristic in relation to the policy. The consultation did not suggest that any disproportionate effects will be had by transgender people.

Promoting good relations

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between transgender people and others.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to sexual orientation.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

The Scottish Government is unaware of any relevant and existing evidence, at this time, on the sexual orientation protected characteristic in relation to the policy. The consultation did not suggest that any disproportionate effects will be had by people due to their sexual orientation.

Promoting good relations

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between people of different sexual orientation.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to race.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

There could be potentially a positive impact on people on the grounds of their race. Evidence suggests that BME people are largely concentrated in urban areas. Heat networks are most cost effective in areas with a large anchor load making largely concentrated urban areas the ideal location for the deployment of heat networks. The cost saving benefits are therefore likely to be seen by BME people living in Scotland.

Promoting good race relations

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good race relations.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to religion or belief.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

There could potentially be positive impacts on people from different religious backgrounds. The consultation found that religious communities may be interested in having their own heat network schemes using their place of worship as an anchor load. They could therefore benefit from potential energy savings which would bring about a positive impact.

Promoting good relations

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations among people of religion and belief and others.

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

N/A as per reference 10 below.