HM Fire Service Inspectorate in Scotland: Chief Inspector's plan - 2021 to 2024

Equality

The Inspectorate's scrutiny role includes the performance of the SFRS in relation to equal opportunities. The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 set out the requirement for certain public bodies, including the SFRS, to take steps to mainstream equality across all of its functional areas. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the body responsible for scrutinising overall compliance with equality legislation. Nevertheless, the Inspectorate will take an interest in relevant equality issues within the function under inspection and consider the extent to which any associated equality obligations have been met.

In addition, the Inspectorate has equality responsibilities of its own. We are committed to ensuring that equality issues are considered across all of our activities, including corporate decision-making, the accessibility of materials, the accessibility of the Inspectorate as part of the requirement for service user involvement, the workplace culture of the unit, the decisions we make in relation to inspection activity and by assessing the performance of the SFRS in meeting the needs of the communities served.