Equality outcomes 2025-2029: equality impact assessment

Key Findings

Age

The EQIA has identified positive and neutral impacts from the policy revision with regards to the Scottish Government as a decision maker and as an employer, based on age. The Equality Outcomes 2025-2029 are applicable to all and there is an opportunity for this policy to improve the outcomes for staff.

We identified data gaps during our assessment, particularly in relation to age-based intersectionality. To address this, we undertook close engagement with duty bearers of the PSED and equality organisations, ensuring that individuals with lived experience were either directly involved or represented.

Disability

The EQIA has identified positive impact with regards to the Scottish Government as a decision maker and positive impacts as an employer, based on disability. The Equality Outcomes 2025-2029 are applicable to all and there is an opportunity for this policy to improve the outcomes for disabled staff.

Gender Reassignment

The EQIA has identified positive and neutral impacts with regards to the Scottish Government as a decision maker and as an employer, based on this protected characteristic. The Equality Outcomes 2025-2029 are applicable to all however there is limited quantitative and qualitative evidence available for this protected characteristic at the time of writing. There is an opportunity for this policy to improve the outcomes for trans and non-binary staff.

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. The EQIA has identified neutral impacts with regards to Scottish Government as an employer, noting that declaration rates for Marital status are the lowest of any declared diversity characteristic.

Pregnancy and Maternity

The EQIA has identified positive and neutral impacts with regards to the Scottish Government as a decision maker and as an employer, based on this protected characteristic. The Equality Outcomes 2025-2029 are applicable to all however there is limited quantitative and qualitative evidence available for the pregnancy and maternity protected characteristic at the time of writing. At the time of this EQIA, pregnancy and maternity data is not covered in the Scotland Census 2022.

Race

The EQIA has identified positive impacts with regards to SG as a decision maker and as an employer. The Equality Outcomes 2025-2029 are applicable to all regardless of Race and there is an opportunity for this policy to improve the outcomes for ethnic minority staff.

Religion or Belief

The EQIA identified has positive impact with regards to SG as a decision maker and positive impacts as an employer. The Equality Outcomes 2025-2029 are applicable to all regardless of religion or belief. There is an opportunity for this policy to improve the outcomes for all staff from this protected characteristic.

Sex

The EQIA has identified positive and neutral impacts with regards to the Scottish Government as a decision maker and as an employer, based on sex. The Equality Outcomes 2025-2029 are applicable to all and there is an opportunity for this policy to improve the outcomes for staff.

Sexual Orientation

The EQIA has identified positive impact with regards to SG as a decision maker and positive impacts as an employer. The Equality Outcomes 2025-2029 are applicable to all regardless of sexual orientation. There is an opportunity for this policy to improve the outcomes for LGBT+ staff.