Public Sector Equality Duty - Regulation 12 report: better performance proposals 2025-2029

Annex: Glossary of key terms

This Annex explains some of the terms used in this report. The definitions are for the purposes of this report only, and may differ from those used in law, other Scottish Government documents, academic sources, or by international organisations. Definitions can also change over time, however there is presently no intention to update this glossary. Listed authorities are encouraged, where necessary, to refer to relevant legislation or official guidance.

There is also a section on Terms and Definitions in the Mainstreaming Toolkit which aims to explain commonly used terms in equality and human rights work.

• Due regard – Having “due regard” to the PSED means that you have made yourself fully aware of, and understood, what the PSED requires, and that you have put this knowledge into practice. There is no standard legal definition of “due regard”.

  See Equality and Human Rights Commission – EHRC – website for more information

• Duty-bearers – Another way of describing organisations which are legally required to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty and the Scottish Specific Duties.
• Equality Act 2010 – A key piece of UK law on equality which includes the PSED.

  See Equality Act 2010 | EHRC for more information

• Equality Advocacy Groups – Charities, non-profit organisations and other civil society groups who advocate on behalf of people who share one or more particular protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
• Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) – An independent statutory body with the responsibility to encourage equality and diversity, eliminate unlawful discrimination, and protect and promote the human rights of everyone in Britain.

  See Who we are | EHRC for more information

• Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) – A systematic process used to evaluate the potential effects of policies, practices, or decisions on different groups of people from an equality perspective. It aims to ensure that these policies, practices, or decisions do not discriminate against any group, and promote equality and fairness. By completing an Equality Impact Assessment, organisations can make informed decisions that prioritise inclusivity. Often abbreviated to ‘EQIA’ or ‘EIA’.
• Equality outcomes – Goals that listed authorities publish and report on progress towards achieving as part of their work to meet the three needs of the general equality duty.
• Interdependencies – Mutual relationships where two or more things are closely related; and a change in one part of the system affects the others. In the context of this report it means tools, reports and strategies which are closely connected.
• Intersectional – Relating to a recognition that people are shaped by simultaneous membership of multiple interconnected social categories, which can compound discrimination, e.g. a disabled woman might experience more disadvantage than a non-disabled woman because of intersecting issues.

  See Using intersectionality to understand structural inequality in Scotland: evidence synthesis – gov.scot for more information

• Intersectional analysis – Analysing data and evidence with consideration of the way in which different social categories which can be related to inequality overlap.
• Listed Authorities – Public bodies in Scotland who are subject to the legal requirements of the Scottish Specific Duties.
• Mainstreaming – Integrating equality and human rights considerations into all policies, procedures, and practices.

  See What is Mainstreaming? – Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Toolkit for more information

• National Advisory Council on Women and Girls – A group that exists to advise the First Minister on what’s needed to tackle gender inequality in Scotland.

  See Homepage – NACWG for more information

• National Performance Framework (NPF) – Scotland’s wellbeing framework, which sets the vision for the kind of Scotland we all want to live in. At present, the Scottish Government is undertaking work on reform of the National Performance Framework. A new version of the framework is expected to be launched early in the 2026 parliamentary session.

  See National Performance Framework – gov.scot for more information

• NDPB Equality Forum – A network of people working on equality issues in Non-Departmental Public Bodies across Scotland
• PSED/the General Duty – The Public Sector Equality Duty (created by section 149 of the Equality Act 2010), a duty on listed authorities to pay due regard to three needs.

  See The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) | EHRC for more information

• Scottish Specific Duties (SSDs) – The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012, known as the Scottish Specific Duties.

  See Public Sector Equality Duty: specific duties in Scotland | EHRC for more information