The 2007-13 Scotland Rural Development Programme will comply with and, where appropriate, contribute to Community policy on equal opportunities for men and women and non-discrimination on grounds of gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, age, sexual orientation or disability, in accordance with Article 8 of Council Regulation ( EC) 1698/2005 and the Scotland Act 1998. The Scottish Government is committed to promoting equality of opportunity in all aspects of life.