Equality and the Budget in Scotland Paul Tyrer Communities Analysis, Scottish Government

About this presentation… EBS Basics A history of equality budgeting The current process – 5 Ws Reflections / Challenges

EBS Basics A Scottish Government assessment of the equality considerations of Draft Budget spending decisions Produced by government analysts in the run up to the Draft Budget being published Informed by previous and new impact assessments EBS drafts influence the Draft Budget as it develops Published on the same day as the Draft Budget as one of a suite of accompanying documents. Can have a high profile.

Equality budgeting in Scotland could be said to start here… The opening of the reconvened Scottish parliament in July 1999. In Scottish parliamentary terms, gender budgeting can be traced back to the establishment of the devolved Scottish Parliament in 1999[126]. Sources suggest that it was the changing political environment of devolution that facilitated the emergence of the Scottish Government's commitment to assess the gender impact of spending decisions

There were a range of early drivers for gender budgeting in Scotland Political will Political change Social change External pressure Pro-equality political climate Commitment to gender mainstreaming Stakeholders and players in place Policy context supportive Commitment to external policy drivers Positive approach to governance Equality or ‘women’s’ “machinery” in place within the institutional arrangements. Three of these points: Political Will: Scottish Parly and Scottish Exec want to be seen as distinctive and innovative Stakeholders and Players in Place: Groups like the Scottish Women’s Budget Group are in place and forge important links with government ministers and officials Pro-equality political climate: ‘Equality’ as an issue begins to rise up the agenda in western politics, with gender budgeting seen as one concrete way of delivering on that agenda

But it was a long road First Equality Strategy published ‘Equality Proofing Budgets and Policy Advisory Group’ established EPGPAG gender budgeting pilots on smoking and sport 2000 Early 2000s 2005 The Equality Strategy of the Scottish Executive (Nov 2000) outlined a commitment to; ‘assess the equality impact of spending plans and decisions as part of the mainstreaming agenda’ The ‘Equality Proofing Budgets and Policy Advisory Group’ established in early 2000s, influential group including feminist economists that advised government departments on their emerging approach SG works with the EPBPAG to develop tools for gender analysis of the budget, developing two pilots – on smoking cessation and prevention and on sport, with specific reference to young people(2006/07 Draft Budget, September 2005).

The long road 2 Last Scottish Labour/LibDem Budget First ‘Equality Statement’ published Seventh EBS published 2006 2009 2015 Last Labour/LibDem draft budget (2007/08; Sept 2006) language shifts clearly towards ‘equality’. In spring 2009, the ‘Equality Proofing Budgets and Policy Advisory Group’ becomes the Equality Budget Advisory Group In September 2009, the 2010-11 Draft Budget features for the first time an equality budget statement (EBS) The 2016-17 EBS, in December 2015, is the seventh to be produced. UK Equality Bill in development UK Equality Act 2010

Why an Equality Statement? The EBS is… Highly valued by Scottish Ministers and equality stakeholders. A key expression of the ongoing commitment to create opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish. A tool to assist with scrutiny of our spending decisions and a commentary on the equality impacts of our spending plans. A written account that enables parliament and other stakeholders to hold the Scottish Government to account for its spending choices.

When does the EBS process start?

When does the EBS process start?

How do we do it? EBAG advises us through the year We look at the evidence base www.gov.scot/EqualityEvidence We use existing impact assessments We have tools to help us We influence the development of the Draft Budget We go through multiple drafts

Protected characteristics How? Ethnicity Gender Disability Gender reassign-ment Protected characteristics Age Religion and belief The main focus of our assessment is inevitably the protected characteristics for which we have good data. However, where we can consider other characteristics, we do so. Marriage, civil partnership Sexual orientation Pregnancy / maternity

What is in the final EBS? A strategic introduction for equality and the draft budget Individual portfolio chapters. Analysts in each government portfolio produce a chapter reflecting on equality and its spending decisions to make sure, as far as possible, that: The Scottish Government understands the equality implications of its spending decisions If there are negative implications, these are mitigated where possible Where there are positive implications, these are maximised where possible An overview by protected characteristic, looking at the impacts of the Draft Budget for gender, disability, ethnicity etc. Also includes ‘socio-economic’ consideration.

When does the EBS process start?

Who uses the final product? Equal Opportunities Committee MSPs Equality stakeholders EBAG International colleagues Government officials

Reflections Scotland has a positive story to tell… The EBS is subject to continual improvement Developed with advice from EBAG Producing a high-quality EBS is a lot of work! But it has a high national profile Gender and Equality Budgeting The forthcoming socio-economic duty offers new challenges and opportunities for Scotland and EBS But it’s a government report! No process is perfect!

Thank you! Paul Tyrer Paul.tyrer@gov.scot Tel: 0131 244 7561 www.gov.scot/EqualityEvidence

Example text “There will be a net reduction in funding for alcohol and drug treatment services in 2016-17 that may impact on particular groups. For example, alcohol-related harm is greatest among men aged 45-59; and while fewer young people are using illegal drugs, there is a vulnerable group of people who have been using drugs for many years and who experience other chronic medical conditions alongside their drug use. It is therefore critical that the funds provided through NHS Boards to support the work of Alcohol and Drug Partnerships continue to be used to tackle the harm to individuals, costs to the health and justice systems, and wider socio-economic impacts.” EBS Health Chapter