A consultation on the Draft Scottish Fiscal Commission (Modification of Functions) Regulations 2016

Chapter 4: Effects on Equal Opportunities, Human Rights, Island Communities, Local Government, Sustainable Development etc.

Equal opportunities

28. The Scottish Government assessed the potential impacts of the SFC Act 2016 on equal opportunities ^[6] . These regulations, that stem from the powers in the Act, do not unlawfully discriminate in any way with respect to any of the protected characteristics (including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation) either directly or indirectly.

Human rights

29. These regulations do not infringe on or affect any subject areas of the European Convention on Human Rights ( ECHR). These regulations have no identified differential impact on human rights nor any impact on any individual's civil liberties.

Business Impacts

30. These regulations will have no impact on Scottish businesses, relating solely to the scrutiny of the public finances, and in particular the changes to the functions of the Scottish Fiscal Commission.

Privacy impacts

31. Information shared between the Commission and other organisations and information used by the Commission will be anonymous aggregate data and the provision of information will be subject to other legislation that prohibits, restrict access or relates to the disclosure of that information, for example the Data Protection Act 1998 or the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014. As a result no privacy impacts resulting from this legislation have been identified.

Island communities

32. The regulations have no identified differential impact on island and rural communities.

Local government

33. There are no additional responsibilities or costs for local authorities as a result of this legislation.

Sustainable development

34. These regulations will have no impact on sustainable development.

Question

Question 6: Do you think that these regulations will in any way impact upon equal opportunities, human rights, businesses, island communities, privacy and/or sustainable development in Scotland?