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Annex F
RURAL AFFAIRS AND THE ENVIRONMENT PORTFOLIO REPORT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
This report covers the Rural Affairs and the Environment portfolio. Each section contains an introduction to the relevant policy context, research and statistical evidence on the position of disabled people and progress towards greater equality; findings from the schemes about areas where progress is evident, and areas where it is less evident; notes on the use of categories of impairment and on the evidence of consultation and involvement of disabled people in the development of the schemes.
FOCUS AREAS
Rural development
Evidence of positive activity in schemes and reports include: improvements in developing an evidence base to help underpin actions by drawing on demographic information and undertaking needs surveys and consultations; developing a better understanding of the diversity of rural areas and the potential impact for rural residents including those who are disabled; addressing some of the rural challenges that impact on rural disabled groups, e.g. transport, health and employment; ensuring that equalities (including disability) was included in the Scottish Government Environmental and Rural Affairs activities, particularly with regard to access to issues related to rural, marine and the environment; and E-learning initiatives in relation to staff training to overcome the issue of distance in rural areas. On the whole, there was substantial evidence of good intentions, and considerable current and planned activity. The availability of disaggregated data for urban and rural areas is growing, and the quality of baseline data many institutions are currently seeking to improve, will be important for demonstrating progress in the future.
Access to the rural environment and natural heritage
Evidence of positive activity in schemes and reports include: evidence of organisations having undertaken or in the process of undertaking assessment of policies, functions and procedures on disability equality; organisations addressing gaps in information with regard to disabled people accessing the rural environment and natural heritage by commissioning research; the development of recruitment and employment policies; evidence of staff/Board member awareness raising and training having taken place; and efforts to involve disabled people and/or organisations representing disabled interests in a variety of contexts (e.g. staff training, meetings, and physical access and communication issues).
Organisations had given serious consideration to disability equality from the rural environment and natural heritage perspective, and there was evidence of much activity both started and planned. In general, the agencies appeared to be aware of the importance of making the rural environment and natural heritage accessible to people with disabilities and were beginning to put in place procedures to achieve this. There was also evidence of collaboration between the agencies especially with regard to joint commissioning of projects related to improving the evidence base on equality groups. While there was a commitment to working towards improving the evidence base to help underpin policies and actions, the links between evidence, where it existed, and actions and outcomes were not always clearly reflected in the action plans and targets. Improving the quality of baseline data both in relation to staff and externally in relation to delivering services to disabled people is vital for demonstrating progress in the future.
CATEGORIES OF IMPAIRMENT
While there was some effort to address the information gap on specific disabilities, few schemes and reports reviewed make detailed use of specific categories of impairment in discussing the impact of rurality on disabled people. The tendency was to acknowledge different categories of disabilities in the introduction and context setting of schemes and plans. Overall public authorities were reviewing and or putting in place global procedures and plans with little reference to the diversity of disabilities experienced by individuals and the extent to which rurality might impact on these individuals in specific ways.
CONSULTATION AND INVOLVEMENT OF DISABLED PEOPLE
In general public authorities appeared to have tried hard to involve disabled people in the design of their action plans. There were some notable examples amongst a few rural health boards in particular, of involving disabled people in developing disability equality schemes and in linking disabled people's experiences with their service plans.
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