The Scottish Government

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THE FIRST MINISTER

PORTFOLIO RESPONSIBILITIES

The First Minister's portfolio is responsible for:

• policy on Europe and external affairs, including the relationship between the Scottish and UK Governments, where the primary aim is to promote Scotland's interests and identity at home and abroad;
• maximising opportunities for, and participation in, high quality cultural events and the promotion of Gaelic;
• communicating our message to the people of Scotland and developing the evidence base for strategic policy decisions by supporting research, analytical and statistical services;
• promoting and protecting Scotland's historic environment; and
• preserving and making available Scotland's national archives.

Along with our work on constitutional and parliamentary issues, the First Minister's portfolio supports business units across the Scottish Government in delivering the five Strategic Objectives.

Historic Scotland and the National Archives of Scotland are Scottish Government Agencies of the portfolio.

GENDER EQUALITY ACTION PLAN

Name of Directorate or Agency

Europe, External Affairs and Culture Directorate ( EEACD)

Directorate Responsibilities

To work with Ministers, our delivery partners and other stakeholders to promote Scotland, Scotland's interests and Scotland's identity both at home and abroad, in order to improve the quality of life of Scotland's people.

Statement of Directorate Commitment to the Promotion of Gender Equality and how this helps to deliver Government's national purpose and outcomes and contributes to progressing the Government's gender equality scheme objectives.

The Scottish Government's stated purpose is to focus the Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.

This purpose is supported by 5 strategic objectives - a Wealthier and Fairer Scotland; a Healthier Scotland; a Safer and Stronger Scotland; a Smarter Scotland and a Greener Scotland. These objectives drive the Europe, External Affairs and Culture Directorate's policy work. Wherever possible this work takes account of the Directorate's commitment to the promotion of gender equality.

EEACD is committed to attracting talented people to live, learn and work in Scotland as part of the Scottish Government's commitment to matching average EU 15 population growth. We do this through the Fresh Talent agenda, through the provision of advice on relocating to Scotland, and through the general promotion of Scotland to key markets and groups, and through the promotion of diversity in the workforce. The Scotlandistheplace website contains information for individuals on their rights, on where to find support, and on equality (including gender equality) in the workplace.

EEACD is committed to enhancing the quality of life for Scotland's people by maximising access to high quality cultural events and opportunities. For the last 2 Spending Reviews, targets were set for Scotland's cultural Non-Departmental Public Bodies and National Collections to seek to increase participation by underrepresented groups, including people of either gender if significantly under-represented (less than 45%). The targets we set for these agencies are based upon the following extract from the Spending Review 2004 technical notes (the notes are available publicly on the Scottish Government website):

Scotland's five National Performing Companies are required by the terms of their funding agreements with the Scottish Government to provide leadership for their respective sectors and demonstrate compliance with relevant legislation including employment law. This would include recognition of their role in identifying and addressing gender based barriers to participation in the arts.

What is known about the experiences of, and issues for, women and men affected by the Directorate Responsibilities

There is patchy evidence about the socio-economic characteristics of Scotland's migrant worker population, and very little evidence about gender equality issues for migrant workers. We know that working conditions and pay are central to the quality of experience that migrant workers have in Scotland but there is little evidence on the differential impact that these may have on men and women.

Widening access to culture for all communities and individuals across Scotland is a primary objective for Scottish Ministers and for Culture and Gaelic Division, within EEACD. Our cultural NDPBs, National Performing Companies and National Collections recognise their duty to ensure that their resources and services are available to people of both genders, and have taken appropriate action as follows:

Scottish Arts Council

The Scottish Arts Council has both general and specific duties in relation to the employment and other goods and services which it provides. The Council is committed in its service provision to equality of opportunity for all people regardless of gender. The Council's Gender Equality Scheme and action plan, published in June 2007, sets out the ways in which it will work over the next three years to fully meet these duties.

A 2006 survey found that the proportion of women who had attended any arts or cultural event or activity was equal to that amongst the adult population of Scotland as a whole (77%) and broadly similar to 2004 (75%). Female respondents were more likely than adults generally to have attended any theatre performance (42% and 47% respectively) but less likely to have attended any music event (34% v 38%). 80% of women had participated in an arts or cultural activity in the previous twelve months, which is higher than the proportion recorded across the adult population of Scotland as a whole in 2006 (76%) and an increase in the proportion recorded in 2004 (69%). Female respondents were more likely than adults generally to have read or bought a book (73% and 67% respectively) or to have undertaken any craft activity (22% and 16%).

SAC will continue to monitor the levels of attendance and participation in the arts. Creative Scotland (see below) will build on the work that has been undertaken in this area through their new functions (as stated in the Creative Scotland Bill) to increase participation and access to cultural activity. The Council's Equality Advisory Groups (internal and external) which were set up to involve people with disabilities in Disability Equality, are to be widened to take other equality strands into account and immediate and future items in relation to gender equality have started to feature in meetings.

These groups are an example of an area where SAC will be collaborating in membership and approach with Scottish Screen to ensure that both organisations are working in a joined-up manner in the period leading up to the setting up of Creative Scotland.

Scottish Screen

Like the Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Screen has a Gender Equality Scheme in place: this will transfer to Creative Scotland and will be built on.

Creative Scotland

As part of the legislative process in establishing the new public body, Creative Scotland, an Equality Impact Assessment pro forma has been completed and published on the Scottish Government's website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/18507/EQIADetails/Q/Id/164

As noted above, both Scottish Screen and Scottish Arts Council have Gender Equality Schemes in place and these will transfer to Creative Scotland and will be built on. Scottish Screen carried out an independent equal pay audit in June 2007, which confirmed that there are no equal pay issues within Scottish Screen. This continues to be regularly monitored and reviewed during job evaluation and recruitment processes. This practice will also transfer to Creative Scotland. Scottish Screen's investment application forms have been updated to expand the equality data captured, ensuring that investment panel decisions include consideration of applicants in relation to equality.

National Museums Scotland

National Museums Scotland puts visitors at the heart of its operations, and aims to appeal to all audiences. This is reflected in its strategic aims.

NMS has a proven track record in audience engagement and this informs the exhibitions, galleries and the learning programmes it offers across all its museums, as well as the facilities and services that it provides. Furthermore, its commitment to equality is reflected in its work on meeting our Equality Duties.

Following the introduction of the 2006 Equalities Act which outlined the Government commitment to equality in Race, Disability and Gender, all public sector bodies are required to comply with the general duty associated with the legislation. This requires organisations to give due regard to:

• Eliminating discrimination
• Promoting equality

In addition to the general duty, certain public sector organisations must comply with a specific duty by developing and publishing an Equality Scheme and Action Plan for all three strands.

The National Galleries of Scotland, National Museums of Scotland and National Libraries of Scotland all have schemes in place covering the three areas. These schemes are regularly updated and developed to reflect monitoring and feedback. Copies of the various schemes are available for viewing on the respective internet sites.

National Galleries

See above.

National Library of Scotland

See above.

National Performing Companies

The companies are all aware of their responsibilities in the arts sector and are required by the terms of their funding agreements to develop a broad and diverse audience base and comply with relevant employment legislation.

All of the companies provide main-scale performances and deliver outreach community involvement programmes of an high standard, designed to give people across Scotland in all socio-economic groups the opportunity to experience, and where possible to participate in their respective art forms.

Europe, External Affairs and Culture Directorate Gender Equality Action Plan

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