Publication - Research and analysis
Impact assessment in governments: literature review
This report reviews literature regarding five types of policy level impact assessments (environment, equity, health, regulatory, rural) in five countries (Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden & Wales). It was commissioned by the Scottish Government to inform their approach to impact assessment.
Appendix A. Policy-level impact assessment legislation and guidance
| Legislation | Guidance | |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | Integrated in RIA | No guidance for policies, only for plans and programmes |
| Equality | Requirement for memoranda and orders to include 'poverty proofing' where there is no RIA (Cabinet Handbook 2006) | Poverty impact assessment guidelines (2008) |
| Health | Integrated with EIA/SEA, not separate requirement | Institute of Public Health in Ireland (2009) Health impact assessment guidance |
| Regulatory | Cabinet Handbook (2006) requires RIA for legislation | Department of the Taoiseach (2009) Revised RIA guidelines: How to conduct a Regulatory Impact Analysis |
| Rural/islands | Cabinet Handbook (2006) requires 'rural proofing' as part of RIA | None |
| Legislation | Guidance | |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | Integraal Afwegingskader (IAK) 2011 | See 'regulatory' for policies |
| Equality | Gender & LGBTI equality policy plan 2018-2021 does not require assessment, limited to gender mainstreaming | |
| Health | No obvious requirements | No obvious guidance |
| Regulatory | Integraal Afwegingskader (IAK) 2011 | Integraal afwegngskader voor beleid en regelgeving Government of the Netherlands (2018) The integrated impact assessment framework for policy and legislation |
| Rural/islands | No requirement |
| Legislation | Guidance | |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | Resource Management Act 1991 indirectly promotes SEA | |
| Equality | Distributional (population) analysis required for every Cabinet proposal | Ministry of Health (2008) The health equity assessment tool: A user's guide (voluntary) |
| Health | No legal requirement | Public Health Advisory Committee (2005) A guide to health impact assessment Ministry of Health (2020) Resources for health impact assessment |
| Regulatory | Impact analysis requirements 2020 Government Expectations for Good Regulatory Practice 2017 | |
| Rural/islands | Part of population impacts assessment | Formal 'refresh' of the Rural proofing guide 2018 |
| Climate | Climate implications of policy assessment 2020 | Climate change effects and impacts assessment: A guidance manual for local government in New Zealand |
| Legislation | Guidance | |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | No legislation for policies, only for plans and programmes | No guidance for policies, only for plans and programmes |
| Equality | Discrimination Act 2008 does not require assessment, limited to gender mainstreaming | |
| Health | Health is a component of the national strategy for sustainable development. | Sweden National Institute of Public Health (2005) A guide to health impact assessment |
| Regulatory | Ordinance on Regulatory Impact Assessment 2007 | Review of RIAs by Swedish Better Regulation Council |
| Rural/islands | No obvious legal requirement | No obvious guidance |
| Legislation | Guidance | |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | No legal requirement for policies, only for plans and programmes. Climate change impacts of policies generally required | No guidance for policies, only for plans and programmes |
| Equality | Equality Act 2010 (Statutory Duties) (Wales) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1064) | Equality and Human Rights Commission (2014) Guidance on the public sector equality duties in Wales. |
| Health | Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 | WHAISU (2019) training and capacity building framework for health impact assessment |
| Regulatory | Welsh Ministers' regulatory impact assessment code for subordinate legislation 2009 | |
| Rural/islands | No obvious legal requirement | Rural proofing checklists (example of Planning Wales Bill) |
| Other | Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 (separate assessments carried out by Public Services Boards) Welsh Language impact assessment often carried out in response to Welsh Language Standards | Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015: guidance |
Contact
Email: Graeme.Wilson@gov.scot
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