On 1 December 1999 Wendy Alexander, the Minister for Communities with responsibility for equality, in answer to a parliamentary question from Malcolm Chisholm, MSP published the first Equality Statement to the Scottish Parliament. The text of that statement is given below.
Introduction
As reaffirmed in "Making it work together: a programme for government", the Scottish Executive is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all. In support of that commitment we are taking a new strategic approach within the Scottish Executive and more widely to ensure that equality of opportunity is at the heart of policy making. This statement sets out our thinking on the best way forward.
We believe that adopting a partnership approach is fundamental to the development and implementation of an equality strategy. We look forward to working with the Parliament and its Equal Opportunities Committee, the statutory equality agencies, local government and others. In this way concern for equality can become an essential part of the foundations for the new Scotland.
The Scottish Executive is keen to engage in an active debate about the principles underpinning the commitment to equality, the key components for a more detailed strategy and options with timescales for priority work. This will involve the Equality Unit, departments within the Executive and external interests. We would encourage everyone with an interest in equality to send in their comments on the statement in writing by 4 April 2000. Under the code of practice on open government, any responses will be made available to the public on request, unless respondents indicate that they wish their responses to remain confidential. The Equality Unit will also be carrying out a programme of detailed discussions with departments across the Executive and with external interests in the early part of next year.
The Commitment to Equality
Promoting greater equality of opportunity for all is fundamental to the Executive’s commitment to building a just and inclusive Scotland. We in the Executive are therefore delighted to join with the Parliament in putting concern for equality at the heart of our work. Our aim is to make an enduring and secure link between concern for equality and the delivery of quality policy and programmes for the new Scotland.
The power to legislate on equal opportunities is reserved to Westminster and goes wider than the current three statutory anti-discriminatory regimes of race, gender and disability. The Scottish Executive reaffirms that we will build on earlier work on race, gender and disability equality. While being sensitive to the concerns of all our people, in developing our broader approach to equality more generally the Executive will be guided by the Scotland Act definition of equal opportunities:
"the prevention, elimination or regulation of discrimination between persons on grounds of sex or marital status, on racial grounds, or on grounds of disability, age, sexual orientation, language or social origin, or of other personal attributes, including beliefs or opinions, such as religious beliefs or political opinions."
Key Principles
The Scottish Executive is building on the following key principles and commitments:
a firm commitment to promoting equality of opportunity for all;
putting concern for equality at the heart of work across the Executive, within public bodies and more widely in partnership with the Parliament and its Equal Opportunities Committee;
involving those with an interest in the development of our Equality Strategy through wide ranging consultation on this statement as well as through ongoing dialogue with established forums and networks as well as continuing discussions with others such as the statutory equality agencies, CoSLA, Trade Unions, equality organisations, academics and others;
a commitment as an employer to be a leader in equal opportunities best practice; and
reporting regularly to Parliament and generally on the development of the Equality Strategy and progress on implementation beginning in April 2000.
The Main Strands
We will adopt a cross-cutting, phased approach to our work on developing and delivering our Equality Strategy. As part of an overall long term programme we will be initiating work on the development of a strategy for training and development on mainstreaming equality across the work of the Scottish Executive, with public bodies and more widely. Alongside that there will be work on developing a strategy for promoting equality of opportunity to include awareness raising (internally and externally) such as promoting equality in public appointments. In discussion with the statutory equality agencies, CoSLA and others we will be looking at the means for developing practical tools for equal opportunities impact assessment of legislative proposals, policy and services as well as looking at ways to share and disseminate good practice.
Developing and building on internal and external equality networks, consultative mechanisms and communications strategies will be central to all that we do as will a commitment to improvements to baseline and ongoing information together with statistics and research. Similarly developing performance management frameworks appropriate to the Scottish context will be an integral part of the programme.
Partnership
Our approach is rooted in the traditions of tolerance and understanding, and a firm rejection of all divisions and attitudes which isolate or exclude. Respect for individuality and personal contribution is at the heart of our commitment. Promoting greater equality of opportunity is a challenge for us all. That is why we will aim to work in partnership with and report regularly to Parliament and more generally on progress with the development and implementation of the Equality Strategy along with specific projects and initiatives.