Regulation of felling and restocking: consultation

Impact Assessments

We are required to carry out a number of impact assessments for proposals of this type. These are outlined below and, where a partial assessment is being provided for your comments these are provided as separate documents.

Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment

Presented alongside this consultation is a partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment ( BRIA) based on our proposals. This document captures the views that we have gathered so far on the potential impacts of our proposals.

A final BRIA, taking into account any information gathered as part of this consultation exercise, will be published after the consultation analysis is complete.

Children’s Right and Wellbeing Impact Assessment

As part of our commitment to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of children under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child we assess proposed legislation and policy for the possible direct and indirect impacts on the rights and wellbeing of all children and young people, no matter what their individual backgrounds and circumstances, and any necessary mitigation.

Our assessment is that no aspect of these Regulations will affect children and young people.

Data Protection Impact Assessment

Presented alongside this consultation is a partial Data Protection Impact Assessment ( DPIA) based on our proposals. This document captures the safeguards that will be in place to protect personal data gathered by Scottish Ministers in discharging their functions as the forestry regulator. It considers the processes as a whole, rather than focussing on changes being made as a result of the new Regulations, but it does not specifically assess any IT systems as those will be assessed by their own specific DPIAs. A final DPIA, taking into account any information gathered as part of this consultation exercise, will be published after the consultation analysis is complete.

Equalities Impact Assessment

We are committed to promoting equality and removing or minimising disadvantage which may be experienced by different groups of people. We have a duty to consider the impact of proposals like these on people who may be differently affected in relation to the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. The protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We have considered the impacts of our proposals on these characteristics and have concluded that no EQIA is required.

Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment

We are required to actively consider whether we can narrow inequalities of outcome caused by socio-economic disadvantage when making strategic decisions. We have considered these proposals in the context of this ‘Fairer Scotland Duty’ and have concluded that they are not within the scope as they do not, individually or cumulatively, constitute strategic decisions.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Presented alongside this consultation is a Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA) Environmental Report. This has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. SEAs help us to consider the potential impact of plans and programmes on the environment and therefore avoid or reduce significant adverse effects on it and look for opportunities to enhance it.

Questions

21. Do you agree with the impact assessments?

If no:

22. What do you disagree with and what do you think should be in its place?