Public procurement strategy: island communities impact assessment

ICIA – Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland

February 2023

Act Background

The Islands act was published in 2018, Section 13 of the Act states that the Scottish Ministers must prepare an ICIA in relation to legislation which, in their opinion, is likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities) in Scotland. Scottish Ministers are required to consider and develop ICIA's in line with the Act.

Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland

The Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland has been developed by a cross sectorial working group, representing organisations across Scotland. The intention behind developing a public procurement strategy is to provide a future high-level vision and roadmap for Scottish public procurement in the longer term which all public sector bodies can align and deliver against.

Decision on ICIA

It was decided that an ICIA was not required for the Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland. The Strategy is aimed at a national level to be flexible enough to allow all organisations to appropriately engage with it, while also giving a direction of travel for Public Procurement in Scotland. This is applied across the whole of Scotland, not specifically for any specific geographical location. Where there are Strategies and initiatives that are referred to, which are subsequently applied to specific geographical locations by the Centres of Expertise or Public Sector Organisations, then there would be an expectation for an ICIA to be carried out where applicable. It is not deemed that the Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland will effect island communities in a way that is is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities) in Scotland.