Housing (Scotland) Bill: equality impact assessment results summary

Executive summary

In developing this Equality Impact Assessment (“EQIA”), the Scottish Government carried out work to assess impacts and was mindful of the public sector equality duty – eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not, and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. The evidence base for the following protected characteristics^[2] was reviewed and assessed; age, disability, sex, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnership. This document sets out a summary of the results in respect of the Bill.

The Scottish Government is mindful the equality duty is not just about negating or mitigating negative impacts, but that we also have a positive duty to promote equality. The Scottish Government has therefore sought to promote equality through the provisions within the Bill and this EQIA outlines how provisions could have a positive impact on one or more of the protected characteristics.