Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024: equality impact assessment

Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme 2025

Title of policy/ practice/ strategy/ legislation etc.

The Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024

Minister

Mr Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity

Lead official

James Brown

Officials involved in the EQIA

John Armour, Elizabeth Bauld and Lauren Begg.

Directorate: Division: Team

Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Economy: Agriculture Policy Division: Agriculture Transformation in Productivity Unit: Livestock Production Team

Is this new policy or revision to an existing policy?

Revision to existing policy

Screening

Policy Aim

The Scottish Government is bringing forward the commitment in the Agricultural Reform Programme to introduce new conditions for the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme in 2025, linked to calving interval performance, which aims to encourage beef farmers to undertake steps that will help to reduce the emissions' intensity of their cattle production systems and make them more financially efficient.

Calving interval is a key efficiency measurement for beef production. Longer calving intervals mean not only longer periods when a cow is incurring costs (e.g. feed, veterinary care) but also emitting greenhouse gases without contributing to beef production.

The Scottish Government announced in an update to the Agricultural Route Map in March 2024 that, from 2025 onwards, a new condition incorporating a calving interval threshold of 410 days will be introduced to the SSBSS.

The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis, rather than herd averages and will apply to the offspring of cattle with an established calving interval of 410 days or less. The first calves registered will be exempt from the calving interval threshold, and will remain eligible for payment provided that all other scheme conditions are met.

Who will it affect?

It will primarily affect producers in the Scottish livestock sector.

What might prevent the desired outcomes being achieved?

Inability to deliver on time due to IT or other delivery capacity issues..

Stage 1: Framing

Results of framing exercise

Policy officials commissioned a desktop literature review from RESAS on equalities which could affect producers within the beef industry as the primary group affected by the reform.

While evidence was found in relation to gender and socio-economic inequality, no evidence was found in the literature review relating specifically to beef producers. The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill EQIA contains evidence on the wider agricultural and rural population, which has been included in this EQIA’s data gathering section.

Additionally, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) (Northern Ireland) carried out an Equality Screening for their Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme in 2023. It was found that the policy will not have an identifiable differential impact because of an individual’s religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, disability or whether or not they have dependents.

Scottish Government officials in Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services conducted a data gathering exercise and produced a summary of agricultural census based age and gender statistics.

Extent/Level of EQIA required

Upon consideration it was felt that an exhaustive EQIA was not appropriate. Officials undertook a literature review and have provided links to evidence which is relevant to the characteristics and their relationship with rural Scotland and agriculture.

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^[1]: Age

Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence

Rural areas tend to have an older population when compared to the rest of Scotland. Specifically, rural areas have a lower proportion of the population in the age range 16 to 44 but a higher proportion of people aged 45 and over. This is particularly true for the age range of 65 and over in remote rural areas.

At June 2023 , of the 8,130 farms with 394,700 beef cows in Scotland, the age of 6,920 occupiers were known, broken down as follows:

• 40 (1%) of farm occupiers are under 25
• 330 (5%) of farm occupiers are aged between 25 and 34
• 690 (10%) of farm occupiers are aged between 35 and 44
• 1,360 (20%) of farm occupiers are aged between 45 and 54
• 2,100 (30%) of farm occupiers are aged between 55 and 64
• 2,400 (35%) of farm occupiers are aged 65 and over

These figures exclude 1,805 male and 1,293 female occupiers where the age is unknown.

Source

annex-portfolio-assessment-update-key-risks.pdf (www.gov.scot)

Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Livestock Production - SSBSS - Equality Impact Assessment - data gathering exercise statistics on gender and age of beef cow farmers from RESAS - 27 June 2024 details - Objective ECM (scotland.gov.uk)

Data gaps identified and action taken

N/A

Characteristic: Disability

Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence

Less than half of people living in rural areas of Scotland live within a 15 minute drive time to a GP by public transport, with only around two thirds of people in rural Scotland within a 15 minute drive time by public transport to a post office. There is broadly the same level of disabled people in rural and urban areas. Disabled people tend to be more dependent on public transport so lower levels of public transport provision can have a greater impact on disabled people in rural areas.

Source

annex-portfolio-assessment-update-key-risks.pdf (www.gov.scot)

Rural Scotland Key Facts 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Data gaps identified and action taken

N/A

Characteristic: Sex

Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence

Research commissioned by Scottish Government in 2017 identified a range of issues that impact women in agriculture and limit their participation in the industry. Key barriers to participation identified were: lack of time; childcare responsibilities; lack of opportunities; and perceived lack of skills. Other issues found to impact women negatively in agriculture were: inheritance norms; under-representation in leadership; and lack of training.

There is a significant gender pay gap for women in remote rural areas (median gross annual pay for women full-time employees £27,231 compared to £32,021 for men).

At June 2023 , of the 8,130 farms with 394,700 beef cows in Scotland, the gender of 6,920 occupiers were known, broken down as follows:

• 4,680 (68%) farm occupiers were male
• 2,240 (32%) farm occupiers were female

Source

Main Findings - Women in farming and the agriculture sector: research report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

annex-portfolio-assessment-update-key-risks.pdf (www.gov.scot)

Livestock Production - SSBSS - Equality Impact Assessment - data gathering exercise statistics on gender and age of beef cow farmers from RESAS - 27 June 2024 details - Objective ECM (scotland.gov.uk)

Data gaps identified and action taken

N/A

Characteristic: Pregnancy and Maternity

Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence

No evidence.

Source

N/A

Data gaps identified and action taken

N/A

Characteristic: Gender Reassignment

Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence

There is limited reliable data on Scotland’s trans population, much less those in rural areas or agriculture sector.

Source

N/A

Data gaps identified and action taken

N/A

Characteristic: Sexual Orientation

Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other (LGBO) population of Scotland is estimated at 2.6%. A higher proportion of the population identify as LGBO in urban areas than in rural

Source

Scottish surveys core questions: 2018 analytical tables - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Data gaps identified and action taken

Gap at agricultural sector level

Characteristic: Race

Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence

There is little evidence of Rural Agriculture and Island (RAI) portfolio spend in this area. Spending in other portfolio areas may impact on this inequality. However, much of the damage and negative experience is likely to be linked to migration policy which is reserved to the UK Government. Seasonal workers in Scottish agriculture have also been shown to face difficulties with xenophobia and racism in previous years. Further research is underway into this topic.

Source

annex-portfolio-assessment-update-key-risks.pdf (www.gov.scot)

Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2017-20 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Data gaps identified and action taken

Gap at agricultural sector level

Characteristic: Religion or Belief

Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence

No evidence.

Source

N/A

Data gaps identified and action taken

N/A

Characteristic: Marriage and Civil Partenership

(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 - refer to Definitions of Protected Characteristics document for details)

Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence

No evidence.

Source

N/A

Data gaps identified and action taken

N/A

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	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation	The Policy has no impact.	The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.
Advancing equality of opportunity	The Policy has no impact.	As above.
Promoting good relations among and between different age groups	The Policy has no impact.	As above.

Do you think that the policy impacts disabled people?

Disability	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation	The Policy has no impact.	The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.
Advancing equality of opportunity	The Policy has no impact.	As above.
Promoting good relations among and between disabled and non-disabled people	The Policy has no impact.	As above.

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

Sex	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination	The Policy has no impact.	The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.
Advancing equality of opportunity	The Policy has no impact.	As above.
Promoting good relations between men and women	The Policy has no impact.	As above.

Do you think that the policy impacts on women because of pregnancy and maternity?

Pregnancy and Maternity	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination	The Policy has no impact.	The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.
Advancing equality of opportunity	The Policy has no impact.	As above.
Promoting good relations	The Policy has no impact.	As above.

Do you think your policy impacts on people proposing to undergo, undergoing, or who have undergone a process for the purpose of reassigning their sex? (NB: the Equality Act 2010 uses the term ‘transsexual people’ but ‘trans people’ is more commonly used)

Gender reassignment	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination	The Policy has no impact.	The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.
Advancing equality of opportunity	The Policy has no impact.	As above.
Promoting good relations	The Policy has no impact.	As above.

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

Sexual orientation	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination	The Policy has no impact.	The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.
Advancing equality of opportunity	The Policy has no impact.	As above.
Promoting good relations	The Policy has no impact.	As above.

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

Race	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination	The Policy has no impact.	The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.
Advancing equality of opportunity	The Policy has no impact.	As above.
Promoting good race relations	The Policy has no impact.	As above.

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

Religion or belief	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination	The Policy has no impact.	The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.
Advancing equality of opportunity	The Policy has no impact.	As above.
Promoting good relations	The Policy has no impact.	As above.

Do you think the policy impacts on people because of their marriage or civil partnership?

Marriage and Civil Partnership[2]	None	Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination	The Policy has no impact.	The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.

Stage 4: Decision making and monitoring

Identifying and establishing any required mitigating action

If, following the impact analysis, you think you have identified any unlawful discrimination – direct or indirect - you must consider and set out what action will be undertaken to mitigate the negative impact. You will need to consult your legal team in SGLD at this point if you have not already done so.

Have positive or negative impacts been identified for any of the equality groups?

No.

Is the policy directly or indirectly discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010^[3]?

No.

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

• No changes have been made to the policy as a result of the EQIA as there were no clear impacts identified which could requirement policy changes.
• The revised policy will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.

Monitoring and Review

On-going RESAS monitoring of farmer age and gender will likely be ongoing throughout the Agriculture Reform Programme, of which this revised policy is part. The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.

Stage 5 - Authorisation of EQIA

Please confirm that:

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

Yes

• Opportunities to promote equality in respect of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation 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.

Yes

• If the Marriage and Civil Partnership protected characteristic applies to this policy, the Equality Impact Assessment has also assessed against the duty to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation in respect of this protected characteristic:

Not applicable

Declaration

I am satisfied with the equality impact assessment that has been undertaken for the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme and give my authorisation for the results of this assessment to be published on the Scottish Government’s website.

Name: John Kerr

Position: Head of Agricultural Policy Division

Authorisation date: 17/10/24

Equality Impact Assessment – Results

Title of Policy: Reform of the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme 2025

Brief summary of aims and desired outcomes of Policy: The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis, rather than herd averages and will apply to the offspring of cattle with an established calving interval of 410 days or less. The first calves registered will be exempt from the calving interval threshold, and will remain eligible for payment provided that all other scheme conditions are met.

Directorate: Division: Team: Agriculture Policy Division, Livestock Production Policy Branch

1. Executive summary

• The policy aims is:
  • The Scottish Government is bringing forward the commitment in the Agricultural Reform Programme to introduce new conditions for the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme in 2025, linked to calving interval performance, which aims to encourage beef farmers to undertake steps that will help to reduce the emissions' intensity of their cattle production systems and make them more financially efficient.
  • Calving interval is a key efficiency measurement for beef production. Longer calving intervals mean not only longer periods when a cow is incurring costs (e.g. feed, veterinary care) but also emitting greenhouse gases without contributing to beef production.
  • The Scottish Government announced in an update to the Agricultural Route Map in March 2024 that, from 2025 onwards, a new condition incorporating a calving interval threshold of 410 days will be introduced to the SSBSS.
  • The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis, rather than herd averages and will apply to the offspring of cattle with an established calving interval of 410 days or less. The first calves registered will be exempt from the calving interval threshold, and will remain eligible for payment provided that all other scheme conditions are met.
• The EQIA sought out evidence on characteristics and potential relationship with the revised policy. The limited evidence identified was broadly related to rural Scotland, or farmers, and was on age, disability, sex, sexual orientation and race. There was no evidence identified on pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, religion and believe, marriage and civil partnership
• No change be made to the policy as there was no identified negative impacts.

2. Background

• The Scottish Government is bringing forward the commitment in the Agricultural Reform Programme to introduce new conditions for the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme in 2025, linked to calving interval performance, which aims to encourage beef farmers to undertake steps that will help to reduce the emissions' intensity of their cattle production systems and make them more financially efficient.
• Calving interval is a key efficiency measurement for beef production. Longer calving intervals mean not only longer periods when a cow is incurring costs (e.g. feed, veterinary care) but also emitting greenhouse gases without contributing to beef production.
• The Scottish Government announced in an update to the Agricultural Route Map in March 2024 that, from 2025 onwards, a new condition incorporating a calving interval threshold of 410 days will be introduced to the SSBSS.
• The new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis, rather than herd averages and will apply to the offspring of cattle with an established calving interval of 410 days or less. The first calves registered will be exempt from the calving interval threshold, and will remain eligible for payment provided that all other scheme conditions are met.

3. The Scope of the EQIA

• The EQIA sought out evidence on characteristics and potential relationship with the revised policy. The limited evidence identified was broadly related to rural Scotland, or farmers, and was on age, disability, sex, sexual orientation and race.
• There was no evidence identified on pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, religion and believe, marriage and civil partnership.
• The evidence was not linked to the change in policy, which is linked to productive livestock and the funding available to farmers – it is likely that these issues are more broadly addressed in the overall development of agricultural policy. Since this revised policy is of a single scheme or a larger policy the EQIA was limited.

4. Key Findings

• There was no identified impact on the characteristics as a result of the revised proposed policy.
• The was because new condition will be measured on an individual animal basis which does not impact on a producer’s equality characteristics. No other changes are expected to impact on a producer’s equality characteristics.

5. Recommendations and Conclusion

• No change be made to the policy as there was no identified negative impacts.