Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill: EQIA

Equality impact assessment (EQIA) for the Heat Networks (Scotland Bill).


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

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

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to age.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

X

There could potentially be positive and negative impacts on older people. The evidence suggests that older people spend more prolonged periods of time in their home and that heat networks can provide energy savings.

However, disruption can be caused in the home or in the surrounding area when heat networks are being installed.

Promoting good relations among and between different age groups

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between different age groups.

Do you think that the policy impacts disabled people?

Disability

Positive

Negative

None

Reasons for your Decision

Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to disability.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

X

There could potentially be positive and negative impacts on people with disabilities. Disabled people may spend significant amounts of time at home and evidence shows that heat networks can provide energy savings.

However, disruption can be caused in the home or in the surrounding area when heat networks are being installed.

Promoting good relations among and between disabled and non-disabled people

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between disabled and non-disabled people.

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

Sex

Positive

Negative

None

Reasons for your Decision

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to gender.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

The evidence shows that households headed by women are more likely to be experiencing fuel poverty than those headed by men. For women (and men) living in fuel poverty, potential energy savings from having a heat network installed in the home would bring about a positive impact.

Promoting good relations between men and women

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between men and woman.

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

Pregnancy and Maternity

Positive

Negative

None

Reasons for your Decision

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to pregnancy and maternity.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

The Scottish Government is unaware of any relevant and existing evidence, at this time, on pregnancy and maternity in relation to the policy. The consultation did not suggest that any disproportionate effects will be had by pregnant women.

Promoting good relations

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between pregnant woman and other people.

Do you think your policy impacts on transsexual people?

Gender Reassignment

Positive

Negative

None

Reasons for your Decision

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to gender reassignment.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

The Scottish Government is unaware of any relevant and existing evidence, at this time, on the gender reassignment protected characteristic in relation to the policy. The consultation did not suggest that any disproportionate effects will be had by transgender people.

Promoting good relations

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between transgender people and others.

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

Sexual Orientation

Positive

Negative

None

Reasons for your Decision

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to sexual orientation.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

The Scottish Government is unaware of any relevant and existing evidence, at this time, on the sexual orientation protected characteristic in relation to the policy. The consultation did not suggest that any disproportionate effects will be had by people due to their sexual orientation.

Promoting good relations

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between people of different sexual orientation.

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

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to race.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

There could be potentially a positive impact on people on the grounds of their race. Evidence suggests that BME people are largely concentrated in urban areas. Heat networks are most cost effective in areas with a large anchor load making largely concentrated urban areas the ideal location for the deployment of heat networks. The cost saving benefits are therefore likely to be seen by BME people living in Scotland.

Promoting good race relations

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good race relations.

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

Religion or Belief

Positive

Negative

None

Reasons for your Decision

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill has, after consultation, been developed in such a way that it will not create unlawful discrimination related to religion or belief.

Advancing equality of opportunity

X

There could potentially be positive impacts on people from different religious backgrounds. The consultation found that religious communities may be interested in having their own heat network schemes using their place of worship as an anchor load. They could therefore benefit from potential energy savings which would bring about a positive impact.

Promoting good relations

X

The Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations among people of religion and belief and others.

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

Marriage and Civil Partnership[10]

Positive

Negative

None

Reasons for your Decision

Eliminating unlawful discrimination

N/A as per reference 10 below.

Authorisation of EQIA

Please confirm that:

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

Yes x / No

  • 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 x / No

  • 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:

Yes / No / Not applicable x

Declaration

I am satisfied with the equality impact assessment that has been undertaken for the Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill and give my authorisation for the results of this assessment to be published on the Scottish Government's website.

Name: Sue Kearns

Position: Deputy Director Consumers and Low Carbon

Authorisation date: 14 February 2020

Contact

Email: James.Hemphill@gov.scot

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