Programme for Government 2026-31: Impact Assessments

Conclusion

As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all UNCRC requirements, what is the potential overall impact of this proposal on children’s rights?

Delivery of the actions within PfG for 2026-27 is considered likely to have an overall positive impact on the children's rights as set out in the UNCRC requirements in the UNCRC Act.

If you have identified a positive impact on children’s rights, please describe below how the proposal will protect, respect, and fulfil children’s rights in Scotland.

Our evidence suggests a number of actions within the four priorities will have a positive impact on the realisation and enjoyment children’s rights in Scotland, either directly or indirectly.

Growing the Economy

The commitments in this chapter have the potential to strengthen access to the following rights:

• Housing (article 27)
• Standards of living (Article 27)
• The right to life, survival and development (Article 6)
• Non-discrimination (Article 2)

Eradicating Child Poverty

• Non-discrimination (Article 2)
• Best interests of the child (Article 3)
• Respect for the views of the child (Article 12)
• Protection from violence (Article 19)
• Access to education (Article 28)
• Aims of education (Article 29)

Tackling Climate Change

• Life, survival and development (Article 6)
• Adequate standard of living (Article 27)

Delivering a Stronger NHS and Public Services

• Non-discrimination (Article 2)
• Best interests of the child (Article 3)
• Life, survival and development (Article 6)
• Keeping families together (Article 9)
• Respect for views of the child (Article 12)
• Support for those with refugee status (Article 22)
• Disabled children (Article 23)
• Health and health services (Article 24)
• Review of treatment and care (Article 25)
• Social security (Article 26)
• Adequate standard of living (Article 27)
• Protection from harmful work (Article 32)
• Protection from harmful drugs (Article 33)
• Protection from sexual abuse (Article 34)
• Protection from exploitation (Article 36)
• Children in detention (Article 37)
• Recovery and reintegration (Article 39)
• Children who break the law (Article 40)

If a negative impact has been identified please describe it below. Is there a risk this could potentially amount to an incompatibility?

No negative impacts have been identified. Delivery of the actions set out within the PfG should be informed by individual CRWIAs as required under the UNCRC Act.

Mitigation Record

What options have been considered to modify the proposal in order to mitigate a negative impact or potential incompatibility?

Please summarise mitigation actions taken below.

Issue or risk identified and relevant UNCRC requirement

N/A

Action Taken/ To Be Taken

N/A

Date action to be taken or was taken

N/A

As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all wellbeing indicators will the proposal contribute to the wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland?

Safe: Yes

Healthy: Yes

Achieving: Yes

Nurtured: Yes

Active: Yes

Respected: Yes

Responsible: Yes

Included: Yes

If yes, please provide an explanation below:

The key commitments of the Programme for Government have been mapped to the Wellbeing Indicators.

Eradicating Child Poverty

The commitments set out to progress the Eradicating Child Poverty priority will support children and young people’s wellbeing by contributing to the following indicators: Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Included and Responsible

Growing the Economy

The commitments set out to progress the Growing the Economy priority will support children and young people’s wellbeing by contributing to the following indicators: Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Respected, Included.

Tackling Climate Change

The commitment set out to progress the Tackling Climate Change priority will support children and young people’s wellbeing by contributing to the following indictors; Safe, Healthy and Achieving.

Delivering a Stronger NHS and Public Services

The commitments set out to progress Delivering a Stronger NHS and Public Services priority will support children and young people’s wellbeing by contributing to the following indicators: Safe, Healthy, Nurtured, Included, Respected.

How will you communicate to children and young people the impact that the proposal will have on their rights?

This CRWIA will be published on gov.scot so those wishing to access it can do so, including children and young people and their representatives. Care has been taken to use plain English in the drafting of this CRWIA so that it is published in an accessible format. Policy teams will continue to meet with children and young people and their representatives who engaged with the Scottish Government and can provide them with the CRWIA.