EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Scottish Executive's Equality Strategy entitled Working together for Equality was published in November 2000. This report, Making Progress, charts the progress which the Scottish Executive, working with the Scottish Parliament, the statutory equality bodies and many other organisations and individuals, is making with the Equality Strategy. It complements the preliminary report published in November 2001.
Significant advances have been made in equal opportunities through legislation introduced through the Scottish Parliament.
For example, we have:
- Made promotion of equality a national priority in education and put a duty on education authorities to say how they will improve equal opportunities.
- Put a duty on Scottish Ministers, local authorities and social landlords to encourage equal opportunities and comply with equality legislation in providing housing and related services.
- Put a duty on the Scottish Commission for Regulation of Care and Scottish Social Services Council to encourage equal opportunities and comply with equality legislation when carrying out their functions.
- Established a statutory committee to advise on transport needs of disabled people.
- Increased protection for those experiencing domestic abuse.
- Recognised rights for same sex couples in cases of adults with incapacity.
- Improved procedures in sexual offence cases, e.g. protecting rape victims from being cross-examined by the accused.
- Put a duty on local authorities to offer eligible disabled people direct payments.
- Repealed section 2a of Local Government Act 1986 thus removing constraints to the discussion of sexual orientation in schools.
Every department of the Scottish Executive has taken action since 2000 to improve the position of equality groups in Scotland.
Major work has been done in the following areas:
- Education and Employment
For example, we have made free pre-school places available for every 3 and 4 year old in Scotland whose parents wish this and produced anti-racism and anti-bullying materials for schools. - Health and Community Care
For example, we have established a Disability Steering Group to improve access to health services for people with disabilities; and introduced free personal care for older people. - Crime and Justice
For example, we have radically increased the provision and support for those experiencing domestic abuse and piloted new ways of delivering quality legal information and advice to asylum seekers and other vulnerable groups. - Social Justice
For example, we have given 10,000 pensioners free central heating and 140,000 people free insulation under the Warm Deal Scheme, and as part of the work on child poverty, invested £24 million to provide childcare to help lone parents get into further and higher education. - Sport and Culture
For example, we have introduced measures to tackle sectarianism in football and increased access to museums, galleries and libraries including £1.9 million to abolish charges to main collections in the National Museums of Scotland. - Transport
For example, we have introduced free off-peak local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people and established a Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland to advise on the transport needs of disabled people.
The Executive has also made progress in mainstreaming equality by:
- Improving data, information and research.
- Increasing consultation and dialogue with equality groups (particularly with disability groups to prepare for European Year of disabled People 2003).
- Raising awareness on equality through specific campaigns such as anti-racism campaign under the banner of 'One Scotland: Many Cultures'.
- Developing the processes to help mainstreaming in policy and spending plans.
- Providing funding and support to improve the provision of translating, interpreting and communication support services.
- As an employer, making good progress towards meeting challenging targets for increasing the numbers of those groups which are currently under-represented in the Scottish Executive workforce.
- Working to increase the diversity of appointees to public bodies.
Conclusion
This report indicates the breadth of the work which is being undertaken across the Executive to tackle inequality and discrimination. It demonstrates the commitment of the Scottish Executive to making a real difference to the lives of people who experience prejudice, exclusion, unfairness and injustice. It shows that with effort and conviction, progress can be made.
However, we have signalled very clearly that we still have much to do. We are not complacent. We will pursue our equality work with enthusiasm. We are determined to implement the strategy we adopted in November 2000 and to deliver change. We want a Scotland which values its different communities, fosters respect for diversity, challenges prejudice and discrimination and heralds justice and equality.