ScotAccount: equality impact assessment

1.8 The scope of the EQIA

ScotAccount is designed to provide secure identity verification for the general population to access digital public services across the whole of Scotland. ScotAccount is not specifically targeted at a particular group or section of society but aims to serve all users equally.

The scope of this EQIA is to consider the impact of ScotAccount on people with protected characteristics as listed within the Equality Act 2010: Age, Disability, Sex, Pregnancy and Maternity, Gender Reassignment, Sexual Orientation, Race and Religion or Belief. The scope of this EQIA is also extended beyond the list of protected characteristics to include socioeconomic disadvantage.

In addition, we considered some other relevant broad protected characteristics, as well as intersectionality (individuals who share more than one protected characteristic).

Potential impacts were considered throughout the development of the programme, with recognition that issues could arise both from broader digital exclusion and from the specific processes involved in using ScotAccount.

The ScotAccount EQIA applied a multi-method approach to assess potential impacts. The process began with a framing exercise to identity barriers and opportunities for inclusion, followed by extensive evidence gathering using national statistics, research reports and stakeholder insights. Workshops explored the ScotAccount journey mapping to consider impacts, socioeconomic factors, document ownership and digital exclusion.

The ScotAccount integrated user research team conducted testing and feedback with a wide range of users, including people with accessibility needs and protected characteristics. The programme adopted a user-centred feedback loop for service development. Stakeholder engagement with equality groups and expert panels shared policy decisions, while compliance checks against the Digital Scotland Service Standard and security frameworks ensured accessibility, trust and inclusion. Live service monitoring and planned external engagement will continue to address gaps and support ongoing improvement.

When considering all of the evidence throughout the development of ScotAccount, the Scottish Government is mindful of the three needs of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED):

• eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation.
• advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
• foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

Where any negative impacts have been identified, ScotAccount has sought to mitigate or eliminate these. We are also mindful that the equality duty is not just about negating or mitigating negative impacts, as we also have a positive duty to promote equality.

Scotland now considers socioeconomic circumstances, which are covered by the Fairer Scotland Duty (2018) and require a separate impact assessment. However, reference to intersectionality between the protected characteristics and poverty is referred to in this EQIA.

In addition to this EQIA, a range of impact assessments are to be developed including:

• Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment
• Data Protection Impact Assessment
• Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment
• Human Rights in Policy Making
• Island and Communities Impact Assessment
• Strategic Environmental Assessment