Publication - Impact assessment
The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2019: EQIA
Equality impact assessment (EQIA) for The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2019.
Stage 2: Data and evidence gathering, involvement and consultation
Include here the results of your evidence gathering (including framing exercise), including qualitative and quantitative data and the source of that information, whether national statistics, surveys or consultations with relevant equality groups.
The evidence gathered for the SRDP 2014-2020 EQIA was noted and the decision made to find updated evidence, were possible, to determine if there had been any changes to the protected characteristics in rural Scotland.
| Characteristic[6] | Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence | Source | Data gaps identified and action taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Rural areas have a lower percentage of the population in the 16-34 age group but a higher proportion of people aged 45 and over. For example, in 2017 18% of the population in remote rural areas and 19% of the population in accessible rural areas were 16-34 year olds, compared to 25% in the rest of Scotland. Conversely, 57% of the population in remote rural areas and 52% of the population in accessible rural areas were aged 45 and over, compared to 35% in the rest of Scotland. In 2017 the proportion of people aged 65 or over was 21% in accessible rural areas was and 25% in remote rural areas compared to 18% in the rest of Scotland | Population Estimates by Urban Rural Classification 2011-17 Scottish Government Equality Evidence Finder | |
| Disability | There is a roughly equal proportion of adults with a long term illness or disability living in rural areas compared to urban areas. In 2017, the proportion of people reporting having a long term health condition or illness was 25% in urban areas and 27% in rural areas. This proportion is despite the fact there is a higher proportion of older people living in rural areas and the prevalence of disability and long term limiting illness increases with age. | Scottish Household Survey 2017 | |
| Sex | Scotland had a relatively even split between genders in 2017, with 51% women and 49% men, although this varied amongst age groups. The youngest age groups had a higher proportion of males as more boys are born than girls, whilst the oldest age groups had a lower proportion of men because women have a longer life expectancy in Scotland. | Mid-2017 Population Estimates Scotland | It did not provide a breakdown by area type. |
| Pregnancy and Maternity | In 2017, 52,861 births were registered in Scotland, 1,627 (3.0%) fewer than in 2016. This is the lowest annual total since 2003. In the last decade there was a peak of 60,041 births in 2008 followed by a mainly downward trend to the 2017 level. The total in 2017 was 7,180 (12.0%) lower than the 2008 peak, and well below the peak of over 100,000 per year in the early 1960s, and the level of around 65,000 to 70,000 per year between the mid-1970s and the early 1990s | Scotland's Population 2017 - The Registrar General's Annual Review of Demographic Trends | |
| Gender Reassignment | There is no precise estimate of the number of trans people in Scotland but the most commonly used figure is 0.5% of the population. More trans adults access services from cities than rural areas. This is likely related to relocation to areas with known support services and communities. | Scottish Public Health Network - Health Care Needs Assessment of Gender Identity Services, 2017 | Proposed inclusion in 2021 census. |
| Sexual Orientation | Around 2% of all adults self-identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual. However the survey notes this is likely to be underrepresented. | Scottish Household Survey 2017 | Proposed inclusion in 2021 census. It did not provide a breakdown by area type. |
| Race | The country of birth by geographic area in 2017 showed: The percentage of those born in Scotland was 75% in remote rural, 79% in accessible rural and 81% in the rest of Scotland. The percentage of those born in the rest of the UK was 21% in remote rural, 17% in accessible rural and 9% in the rest of Scotland. The percentage of those born in the rest of the world was 4% in remote rural, 5% in accessible rural and 10% in the rest of Scotland [this was further split by European Union and non-European countries – in all areas there was a roughly equal split]. | Rural Scotland: Key Facts 2018 | |
| Religion or Belief | In 2017 the proportion of people with no religion is higher in urban areas than in rural areas (52% compared to 49%). The proportion of people with a non-Christian religion is higher in urban areas than in rural areas (4% compared to 2%). | Scottish Household Survey 2017 | |
| Marriage and Civil Partnership (the Scottish Government does not require assessment against this protected characteristic unless the policy or practice relates to work, for example HR policies and practices - refer to Definitions of Protected Characteristics document for details) | There were 28,440 marriages in Scotland in 2017, 789 (2.7%) fewer than in 2016. Of these, 982 were same-sex marriages (involving 407 males couples and 575 females couples) following The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 coming into force on 16 December 2014. | Scotland's Population 2017 - The Registrar General's Annual Review of Demographic Trends | It did not provide a breakdown by area type. |
Contact
Email: Shirley.Graham@gov.scot
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