FUNCTION OR POLICY | COMMITMENT
Actions we committed to in our Scheme and new commitments | OUTCOMES/ ACTIONS TAKEN
Work undertaken to date | FUTURE ACTION
Work underway or planned to address these challenges | DEADLINE/ TIMING | CONTACT
Lead unit working on this |
High Impact |
Office of the Chief Statistician - Take the lead role in ensuring that the Statistics group develops its data availability and dissemination of statistics disaggregated by gender, ethnicity, disability and age, so that by November more Social Justice milestones can be disaggregated by the equality dimensions. | The Statistician group across the Executive is committed to the increased collection, analysis and dissemination of data across the equality dimensions. This is noted in the Statistical Plan and in papers supporting the Equality Strategy. The need for data is highlighted in both the Equality Strategy and the RR(A)A. | Analysis of the 2001 census data for minority ethnic populations was published in February 2004. This has been provided to departments as a guide to areas of analysis to take forward in their policy areas. The analysis also formed the background for a seminar on ethnicity results from the 2001 Census which was held in February 2004. The aim of the seminar was to discuss the results from the Census with internal and external stakeholders and to agree on priorities for future research. Data has been disaggregated by ethnicity for all Social Justice Milestones for which it is possible [Milestones 1,13 and 15]. Through the Ethnicity Classification subgroup, depts are being encouraged to evaluate their data needs. | The OCS will continue to promote the increased availability and use of data disaggregated across the equality dimensions. | | Office of the Chief Statistician (OCS)
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To consider the range of economic statistics available for Scotland, identifying and addressing gaps, where appropriate | Boosting Labour Force Survey for Scotland and examining Scottish Household Survey Results. This will provide data on economic activity by ethnic group, subject to quality checks. | Ongoing. Initial indications suggest current LFS boost not sufficient to provide detailed ethnic analysis. Further work required. | | 2004 | OCS in conjunction with colleagues in ETLLD
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| The Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics (SNS) project is looking to deliver increased amounts of data at local levels and where appropriate this will include equality data. The development and maintenance of this information will be on-going, although the initial project is funded to deliver in March 2004. The work to increase and improve the equality dimension data across the Social Justice milestones is also an on-going project which will be helped by the SNS and the general commitment of the statistics group. | Significant progress is being made by the SNS project. However, given the emphasis on small area level data it will not be feasible to present much data disaggregated by disability or ethnicity. It is hoped that data across the age and gender dimensions will be more available. Key problems include availability of data and perhaps more significantly, disclosure issues. | | Spring 2004 | |
| The CSU is also leading work to develop improved equality classifications. The priority is ethnicity and national identity. The current timescale is to produce a clear picture of user need (central and local government) by Autumn 2003. This will then be followed by wider community consultation to develop classifications during 2004. Work on disability classifications is also being taken forward. | The Ethnicity Classification Subgroup of RESIG was set up in October 2003 as an internal group to review equality classifications. Outline information on data needs and classification systems in use across the Executive has been collated. | Preparation for a cross-public sector forum is being undertaken with external stakeholders. The aim is for this external group to be convened in early 2004. The group will enable sharing across the public sector and the development together of a consistent approach that will improve information across Scotland. | 2003/4 | Office of the Chief Statistician
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| The CSU works with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and other Government Departments to ensure that harmonisation and coherence of classifications is possible where sensible and necessary. | OCS has representatives on the National Statistics Working Group and the Technical sub-group of the Home Office led Inter-departmental Group on Race Equality. The ONS have recently published new guidance on Ethnic Group classification. | | Ongoing | Office of the Chief Statistician
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Promote good practice in consultation across Executive & monitor and evaluate this practice | 1. Good Practice Guidance on Consultation with Equality Groups published 2002. The Guidance provides advice on how best to engage with those 'harder to reach' groups whose views are not routinely sought in the development of public policy. 2. Alternative formats and community language versions of this document are available. 3. Guidance will be reviewed. | 1. This has now been superseded by Executive-wide guidance on consultation which mainstreams equality issues. 2. The Good Practice Guidance on Consultation with Equality Groups has been integrated within the revised corporate Good Practice Guidance on Consultation | | | Civic Participation & Consultation Team, Office of the Chief Researcher (OCR)
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Policy Unit - Fresh Talent | Policy Unit and OCEA assessing trends and possible policy responses to Scotland's declining population, and its impact on the economy and society. | Work in progress in considering impact of demographic change on selected policy areas; health, education, labour market. | | Ongoing | Office of the Chief Economic Advisor (OCEA), OCR, OCS |
Social Research: Provision of high quality evidence to inform policy development, implementation and evaluation across the Scottish Executive (to help understand needs of diverse communities and assess impact of policies on these communities) | 1. Creation of dedicated Equalities Research team in Spring 2002 to develop research evidence to support the Equality Strategy and to promote the mainstreaming of equality issues (including minority ethnic issues) across Social Research in the Scottish Executive. 2. Evidence gathering led by the Equalities Research team to date has included an Ethnic Minority Research Workshop, Focus Groups with Minority Ethnic Communities, Scoping Study for a National Survey of Scotland's Ethnic Minority Populations, Audit of Ethnic Minority Research Literature, Research Study of Asylum Seekers in Scotland. 3. Work involving minority ethnic communities led by other Social Research teams in the Executive has been conducted in relation to policing and crime, education, family support and community care, family mediation etc. | 1. A team of five equalities researchers was established. 2. Main relevant research projects in 2003: - Focus Groups With Minority Ethnic Communities (October 2003). - Diversity in the Public Appointments Process in Scotland (October 2003). - Attitudes to Discrimination in Scotland (published September 2003). - Asylum Seekers in Scotland (February 2003) - Mainstreaming Equality Web Site (MEWS), launched December 2003. 3. Publications from other Social Research Teams include: - Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland: The Twice Yearly Count (August 2003), Housing & Area Regeneration Research Team. - Minority and Social Diversity in Legal Education (March 2003), Legal Studies Research Team. | Ongoing/future projects include: 1. Refugees & Asylum Seekers in Scotland: A Skills and Aspirations Audit. 2. Scoping Study of Minority Ethnic Enterprise in Scotland 3. BME Homelessness study (co-managed by the Equalities Research Team and the Housing & Area Regeneration Team) 4. ESRC Case Studentship: 'Understanding Ethnic Minority Residential Preferences: Neighbourhood Attachment and Suburbanisation' 5. Assessing a Generic Equality Strategy (to be carried over to 2004/2005 research programme) 6. Translation, Interpretation and Communication Support Project 7. Ethnicity Classification (Research team participates and contributes to the Ethnicity Classification Working Group) 8. Advocacy Services for Refugees & Asylum Seekers (to be taken forward in 2004) 9. Where We Live - A Social Mapping Pilot for Black and Minority Ethnic People (to be carried over to 2004/2005 research programme) 10. Input into Equality Unit led work on Minority Ethnic employment 11. Input into work on equality training (in conjunction with the Equality Unit) 12. Review of Multiple Discrimination Research | 1. March 04 2. August 04 3. April 04 4. Autumn 05 5. Ongoing 6. September 04 . 7. Ongoing. 8. Ongoing 9. Ongoing 10. January 04 11. Ongoing 12. Ongoing | 1-10. Social Justice (Equalities Research)
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Commission and manage research projects within these programmes | 4. The Equalities Research Team will develop an internal Action Plan to promote awareness of, and provide guidance on, the mainstreaming of equality issues (including minority ethnic issues) across Social Research in the Scottish Executive. | - A Pro-forma for all research projects was created and piloted with DD based Social Research teams in 2003.
- The Equalities Research Team has developed a mainstreaming toolkit for researchers, launched in December 2003 as part of the Mainstreaming Equalities Website (MEWS).
- The Equalities Research Team held a workshop on the Mainstreaming Equalities Website at the Social Research Away Day in March 2003.
- There is now a tick-box on CERES which records all new projects' consideration of equality issues.
- The new internal on-line registration system for Executive consultations (CRES) seeks basic information on target audiences, including equality groups, for each consultation issued by the Executive. There is now a tick-box which records new projects' consideration of equality issues.
| - The use of the pro-forma was successful. However, in the DD: ASD, a new procedure has been developed for research proposals. The mainstreaming toolkit for researchers will now be the main vehicle for promoting equality issues in research.
- The Equalities Research Team has a dissemination and action plan for the promotion of the mainstreaming toolkit to amongst Executive researchers and policymakers.
- MEWS has acquired dedicated administrative support to ensure that the site is regularly updated.
- Further dissemination and promotion work for MEWS currently underway.
- All new research projects will continue to use CERES.
| Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing | Social Justice (Equalities) Research and all Social Research teams |
Medium Impact |
Develop policy focussed research programmes to provide evidence | 1. A programme of minority ethnic research, led by the Equalities Research team is ongoing and plans for future work are currently under discussion. 2. Sector-specific programmes of research have considered the need for minority ethnic research evidence in relation to education, crime etc. | 1. Research on minority ethnic issues is ongoing as part of our broader programme of equalities research as detailed above. 2. Please see individual departments action plans for specific work on this. Education for example invite tenders to consider minority groups. | 1. Work already underway in this area will continue as will the development of new areas of research such as, for example, employment and enterprise. 2. The Equalities Research team supports the Executive's commitment to mainstreaming equality and supports action in the various policy areas in this regard. | Ongoing | Social Justice (Equalities Research)
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| 3. The Equalities Research Team will develop an internal Action Plan to promote awareness of, and provide guidance on, the mainstreaming of equality issues (including minority ethnic issues) across Social Research in the Scottish Executive. | - The Equalities Research Team has developed a mainstreaming toolkit for researchers, launched in December 2003 as part of the Mainstreaming Equalities Website (MEWS).
| - The Equalities Research Team has a dissemination and action plan for the promotion of the mainstreaming toolkit to amongst Executive researchers and policymakers.
| Ongoing | Social Justice (Equalities Research)
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| 4. Mainstreaming of equality issues in research programme development will initially be piloted within Development Department Social Research Teams. | - A Pro-forma for all research projects was created and piloted with the development department in 2003.
| - Mainstreaming of Equalities issues is now being taken forward through the Mainstreaming Equalities Toolkit.
| Ongoing | Social Justice (Equalities Research)
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| 5. Social Research teams across the Executive will be encouraged to consider which of their research priorities may have an equalities (including minority ethnic) dimension prior to funding decisions being taken in relation to the research. | - Social Justice (Equalities Research) held a workshop on Mainstreaming Equalities at Social Research Away Day.
- CERES has a tick-box on equalities considerations
| - The Equalities Research Team has a dissemination and action plan for the promotion of the mainstreaming toolkit to amongst Executive researchers and policymakers.
| Ongoing. | Social Justice (Equalities) Research and all Social Research teams |
Publish and disseminate research evidence | 1. An Ethnic Minority Research Bulletin was published in 2001 and was circulated extensively to a distribution list including a wide range of minority ethnic groups and organisations. 2. Publications such as the Audit of Ethnic Minority Research Literature have also been publicised via organisations such as Positive Action in Housing etc. | - There have been no further bulletins.
- All research publications are distributed extensively. All publications are available on the internet. Hard copies are available on request.
- The publications distribution list includes a large number of minority ethnic groups and organisations and relevant agencies, for example, the CRE..
| - Work already underway for publications and dissemination will continue.
- Publication and dissemination strategies form part of the Mainstreaming Equality Toolkit for Researchers.
- Workshop on the Refugee and Asylum Seekers Skills Audit held at a Home Office conference with stakeholders in Birmingham, June 2003.
| Ongoing Use of this Toolkit will be promoted and disseminated throughout 2004. | Social Justice (Equalities) Research and all Social Research teams |
| 3. Alternative or additional approaches to dissemination (including peer review, stakeholders seminars) are currently being piloted on a number of projects. | | | 3. Ongoing | Dissemination & publications team, OCR
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| 4. Social Research publication procedures will be revisited and revised once guidance on the translating and interpreting of publications has been provided. | | - We have commissioned a two-stage research project to review current practice in relation to the provision of Translation Interpretation and Communication services (TICS) within public services.
- The research will involve an audit of TICS provision in Scotland, followed by a fuller investigation of the practice of providing interpreting and translating support to users of community languages and deaf people in need of communication support.
| Following this research we will devise a policy. Initial findings from the audit exercise will be available by spring 2004. A final report of both stages will be published in autumn 2004. | Dissemination & publications team, OCR
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Liaise and consult with external research community to promote effective dialogue and build capacity | 1. Liaison and consultation work to date has included an Ethnic Minority Research Workshop, involvement of minority ethnic representatives on research advisory groups & use of the peer review process etc. | - We held a consultation event for the Minority Ethnic Enterprise project with Scottish Enterprise in November 2003.
- We regularly consult and have dialogue (informally and formally) with the CRE, and other researchers and professionals who have an interest in this area.
| - We will continue to liaise and consult with the external research community.
- In conjunction with the Central Statistics Unit and the Equality Unit we will be hosting a seminar for internal and external stakeholders in February 2004 examining the implications of the ethnicity data from the 2001 Census.
| Ongoing Ongoing | Social Justice (Equalities) Research Team
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| 2. Further work to develop capacity of external research community will be taken forward during 2003/04. | - Regular consultation and dialogue with external research community.
- Consultation event with internal and externals stakeholders on the Minority Ethnic Enterprise Scoping Study held in November 2003.
| No formal plans to expand on current activity. | Ongoing | |
Policy on internal business improvement within the Executive | Business improvement policy needs to take into account the needs and contributions of all staff and develop systems to ensure this. | - Equality issues integrated within draft Policy Checklist tool and draft Business Planning guidance for use by all Depts
- Developing Diversity Strategy has been taken forward as part of Changing to Deliver programme
- Outward Focus theme within CtD reinforces need to take account of wide variety of stakeholder needs and perceptions
| | Continuing | Changing to Deliver Division
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Low Impact |
Office of Chief Economic Adviser (OCEA) - to develop and disseminate a body of knowledge of demographic issues, including net immigration, and its impact on the Scottish economy. | Convene body of outside experts to assist in the development of our understanding of the subject; to inform policy development in this area across Executive and disseminate through Ministerial speeches, contributed articles to media etc. | Work in progress in considering impact of demographic change on selected policy areas; health, education, labour market. | | 2004/5
Ongoing | Office of the Chief Economic Advisor
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