1. The Socioeconomic Duty - A Consultation.
Scottish Government July 2017
Summary
Dr Linda Leighton-Beck
Head of Social Inclusion, Public Health

3. We know that people living in worse off neighbourhoods are less likely to live long, healthy lives than more advantaged citizens. worst,5-8 live less long 10th decile

4. Scotland in 2017: wealth distribution

5. What difference will the new duty make?
Contention - We need to optimise the leverage within strategic decisions to address issues related to reducing inequalities to make the biggest differences.
Duty asks about how to make the best decisions possible with the best chance of tackling poverty and inequality.

6. Example – before the duty (1)
Council developing new plan for low-cost housing
- Addresses shortage of affordable homes
Two possible sites
Chosen site:
Greenfield site at far east end of council area, relatively cheap
Lay new pipes. Build houses with gardens people indicate they want
Few bus services
No plans to build additional services .

7. Example – after the duty (2)
Business plan now includes :
Need for new bus services, shops and other local amenities.
Provides information on these services & costs of setting them up.
Alternative option :
Low cost flats in empty site near centre of council area
Costs more per home but residents can use existing local services
Easier for residents to get to work
Some resource still required for local services and amenity/play area.

8. Example – after the duty (2)
Council now consults - with people with lived experience - about preferred site
Local people want site in centre of the council area because of ease of access to jobs
Council publishes short report including rationale for decision to build in centre of council area.

9. Public bodies covered by new duty
Scottish Ministers
Local councils
NHS Health Scotland
Health and Social Care Integration Joint Boards
Regional Health Boards
The Scottish Police Authority
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise

10. Strategic decisions - examples
New plans for:
housing in a local area
growing the local economy and new jobs
spending on new roads and hospitals
setting up a community woodland
helping prevent crime
transport in the region.

11. Assuring performance of socioeconomic duty
Require/encourage public bodies to record and publish assessment of impacts - on poverty and inequality - of significant decisions
Establish Fairness Commission
Involve people who have lived in poverty in making significant decisions

12. Consultation Qs 1 Key terms reasonable to include in guidance?
Socio economic disadvantage
Inequalities of outcome
Decisions of a strategic nature
Due regard.
2A Scottish public authorities the right ones?
2B Should Duty apply to any other public authority similar to those in Equality Act 2010? 3

13. Equality Act 2010, as amended by the Scotland Act 2016
Power to amend section 1
“relevant authority” means an authority whose functions are—
exercisable only in, or as regards Scotland
wholly or mainly devolved Scottish functions, and
correspond ,or are similar, to those specified in section 3.

14. Public authorities listed in Equality Act
Minister of the Crown;
Government department other than the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence
Service or the Government Communications Head-quarters;
County council or district council in England;
Greater London Authority;
London borough council;
Common Council of the City of London in capacity of local authority;
Council of the Isles of Scilly;
Strategic Health Authority under section 13 of the National Health
Service Act 2006, or continued in existence by virtue of that section;
Primary Care Trust established under section 18 of that Act, or continued in
existence by virtue of that section;
Regional development agency established by the Regional Development
Agencies Act 1998
Police authority established for an area in England.

15. Consultation Qs - Section 3 Requirements of the Duty
Step 1: Identifying which strategic decisions public authorities take
Step 2: Identifying inequalities of outcome caused by socio-economic disadvantage
Step 3: Exercising the duty during decision-making
Step 4: Monitoring impact over the longer term

16. Qs section 3 – meeting the requirements
3A Comments on the steps set out in SECTION 3? 3B Other actions public authorities could take to demonstrate meeting the duty? 3C Suggestions on how public authorities could improve budgetary analysis and reporting ? 3D Examples of how public authorities and others have involved people with direct experience of poverty? 3F Should public authorities use existing monitoring frameworks to track socioeconomic outcomes over time?

17. Qs section 4 Links with other Duties
- Once the socio-economic duty is introduced 4A What could public authorities and Scottish Government do to ensure links between the different duties are managed effectively within organisations? 4B Examples of good practice in taking an integrated approach to issues such as poverty, equality, and human rights?

18. Embedding health inequalities impact screening in significant decision making
To support colleagues we have developed an easy steps guide to health inequalities impact screening.
The guide is available on NHS Grampian Hi-Net/ Health Inequalities
Scottish Government guidance is anticipated by the end of 2017.