MINISTERIAL FOREWORD
The public sector duty to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people marked a significant advance in tackling the barriers and discrimination that disabled people face: barriers to participation and inclusion, and barriers which can prevent access to public services.
But our commitment to disability equality is not just driven by legislative requirements, it is built on the belief that greater equality will lead to a more socially cohesive and fairer Scotland. Removing the barriers to disabled people playing a full part in the social, economic and civic life of Scotland is in everyone's interest.
One year on, I am delighted to report on the progress made by the Scottish Government towards meeting the duty. The Scottish Government's disability equality scheme set out action plans for tackling discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity across the broad range of Government policies and functions. Our annual report summarises the action that we have taken.
Following the Scottish Parliamentary elections earlier this year, the Scottish Government set out five new strategic objectives for a wealthier and fairer, healthier, safer and stronger, smarter and greener Scotland, a Scotland where all of its people can flourish. We also restructured Government to enable effective delivery of these objectives.
We recognise that achieving equality for disabled people will take time and that there is still a long way to go. However, we are committed to taking action to promote equality and consider the disability equality duty to be key to delivering the institutional changes needed to make progress. Through our annual reports on our disability equality scheme we hope to show progress year on year and to deliver results for disabled people in Scotland.
STEWART MAXWELL, MSP
MINISTER FOR COMMUNITIES AND SPORT
DECEMBER 2007