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Publication - Impact assessment

Miners' Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill: business and regulatory impact assessment

Published
28 October 2021
Directorate
Safer Communities Directorate
Topic
Law and order
ISBN
9781802015256

Business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) for the Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Summary and recommendation

The Scottish Government considers that option 1 offers the most benefit; will best support the delivery of a number of national outcomes; and responds most positively to the recommendation from the IRG Report. Option 1 will also provide the best means of achieving the policy intentions of recognising hardship and disproportionate impacts of participating in the Strike; aiding reconciliation; and removing the stigma of criminal convictions.

Summary costs and benefits table
Option Total benefit per annum – economic, environmental, social Total cost per annum - economic, environmental, social, policy and administrative
1. Bring forward legislation to provide a pardon to miners, subject to qualifying criteria.
  • Recognises hardship and disproportionate impact in a public, national and legislative way. Helps to bring a degree of closure to those affected by the Strike
  • Creates opportunities to build understanding and reconciliation within mining communities - and to help heal psychological wounds. The pardon would also bring a restoration of dignity to a number of miners, their families and their communities.
  • None
2. Provide additional funding to Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the National Mining Museum of Scotland.
  • Recognises hardship and disproportionate impact on miners by providing investment in former mining communities.
  • Financial cost to be determined in due course by Scottish Ministers.
  • Would do nothing to remove the stigma of criminal convictions or to reconcile former miners and police officers.
  • Not favoured by stakeholders.
3. Scottish Government apology
  • Recognises hardship and disproportionate impact in a public and national way.
  • Provides some aid to reconciliation.
  • Would do little to relieve the burden of the stigma of criminal conviction.
  • Could be perceived as meaningless
  • Would be inappropriate for the Scottish Government to issue an apology for matters outwith its control or design.
4. Do nothing.
  • None
  • Would be a rejection of the recommendation from the IRG report.
  • Could signal disinterest in t the important matters raised in the IRG Report leading to even greater feelings of hurt for miners, their families and communities.
  • Negates any opportunity to understanding and reconciliation within mining communities - and to help heal wounds.
  • Negates any opportunity to bring a degree of closure to those affected by the Strike.

Contact

Email: minersstrikepardon@gov.scot

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