Draft Scottish Marine Litter Strategy Consultation

Annex D: Equality Impact Assessment Record

Policy title	Draft Marine Litter Strategy
Minister	Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
Lead official	David Mallon, Head of Marine Environment
Officials involved in the EQIA	name	team
	Nikki Milne	Marine Environment
Directorate: Division: team	Marine Scotland Planning & Policy
Is this new or revision to an existing policy?	New policy

Screening

Policy Aim

The draft Marine Litter Strategy aims to address the levels of marine litter present, for the benefit of all users of the marine and coastal environment.

The Strategy will help Scotland deliver its responsibility under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to ensure that the properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment.

The policy contributes to the national outcome 'we value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect it and enhance it for future generations'.

Who will it affect?

It is anticipated that by addressing levels of marine litter, the draft Marine Litter Strategy will benefit all users of the marine environment and coastal communities.

What might prevent the desired outcomes being achieved?

Financial factors might prevent future desired outcomes being achieved.

Stage 1: Framing

Results of framing exercise

The possible actions identified in the draft Strategy are tentative at this stage and in some cases would need further consultation. Relevant stakeholders groups will be consulted on any equality issues arising before finalising the Strategy.

Extent/Level of EQIA required

It is anticipated that appropriate stakeholder groups would be consulted with a view to determining the nature and extent of any impact of actions identified under the Strategy.

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.

Characteristic	Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence	Source	Gaps identified and action taken
AGE	No evidence was available to suggest the policy would impact on people of particular ages.	Literature review.	None identified.
DISABILITY	No evidence was available to suggest the policy would impact on people with a disability.	Literature review.	None identified.
SEX	Evidence suggested that the policy would impact equally on men and women.	Literature review.	None identified.
GENDER REASSIGNMENT	No evidence was available to suggest the policy would impact on transgender people.	Literature review.	None identified.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION	No evidence was available to suggest the policy would impact on people in terms of their sexual orientation.	Literature review.	None identified.
RACE	No evidence was available to suggest the policy would impact on people of particular racial groups.	Literature review.	None identified.
RELIGION OR BELIEF	No evidence was available to suggest the policy would impact on people in terms of their religious beliefs.	Literature review.	None identified.

Stage 3: Assessing the impacts and identifying opportunities to promote equality

Having considered the data and evidence you have gathered, this section requires you to consider the potential impacts - negative and positive - that your policy might have on each of the protected characteristics. It is important to remember the duty is also a positive one - that we must explore whether the policy offers the opportunity to promote equality and/or foster good relations.

Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their age?

Age	Positive	Negative	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation			No anticipated impact.
Advancing equality of opportunity			No anticipated impact.
Promoting good relations among and between different age groups			No anticipated impact.

Do you think that the policy impacts disabled people?

Disability	Positive	Negative	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation			No anticipated impact.
Advancing equality of opportunity			No anticipated impact.
Promoting good relations among and between disabled and able bodied people			No anticipated impact.

Do you think that the policy impacts on men and women in different ways?

Gender	Positive	Negative	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination			No anticipated impact.
Advancing equality of opportunity			No anticipated impact.
Promoting good relations between men and women			No anticipated impact.

Do you think your policy impacts on transsexual people?

Gender reassignment	Positive	Negative	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination			No anticipated impact.
Advancing equality of opportunity			No anticipated impact.
Promoting good relations			No anticipated impact.

Do you think that the policy impacts on people because if they are lesbian, gay or bisexual?

Sexual orientation	Positive	Negative	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination			No anticipated impact.
Advancing equality of opportunity			No anticipated impact.
Promoting good relations			No anticipated impact.

Do you think the policy impacts on people on the grounds of their race?

Race	Positive	Negative	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination			No anticipated impact.
Advancing equality of opportunity			No anticipated impact.
Promoting good race relations			No anticipated impact.

Do you think the policy impacts on people because of their religion or belief?

Religion and Belief	Positive	Negative	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination			No anticipated impact.
Advancing equality of opportunity			No anticipated impact.
Promoting good relations			No anticipated impact.

Stage 4: Decision making and monitoring

Identifying and establishing any required mitigating action

Have positive or negative impacts been identified for any of the equality groups?	N/A
Is the policy directly or indirectly discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010?	N/A
If the policy is indirectly discriminatory, how is it justified under the relevant legislation?	N/A
If not justified, what mitigating action will be undertaken?	N/A

Describing how Equality Impact analysis has shaped the policy making process

The impact of marine litter can impact on the tourism sector, recreational activities, the quality of the marine environment and the quality of life for coastal communities. In seeking to address the levels of litter in our marine environment, the Strategy contains possible actions to bring social benefits.

The draft Strategy does not negatively impact on equality and does not, therefore, require mitigation or introduction of an alternative policy. This can be assessed further as the Strategy is developed.

Unlikely to have an effect on resourcing and no impact on costs.

Monitoring and Review

The effect of the policy on equality issues will be assessed by on-going stakeholder engagement.

Stage 5 - Authorisation of EQIA

Please confirm that:

• This Equality Impact Assessment has informed the development of this policy:

• Opportunities to promote equality in respect of age, disability, gender, gender identity/transgender, sexual orientation, race and religion and belief have been considered, i.e:
• Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation;
• Removing or minimising any barriers and/or disadvantages;
• Taking steps which assist with promoting equality and meeting people's different needs;
• Encouraging participation ( e.g. in public life)
• Fostering good relations, tackling prejudice and promoting understanding.

Declaration

I am satisfied with the equality impact assessment that has been undertaken for the Draft Scottish Marine Litter Strategy and give my authorisation for the results of this assessment to be published on the Scottish Government's website.

Name: David Palmer

Position: Acting Head of Division

Authorisation date: 24 June 2013