Fire and smoke alarms in Scottish homes consultation: interim equality impact assessment

Assessment published in connection with consultation on new standards for fire and smoke alarms in Scottish housing across all tenures.


Stage 3: Assessing the impacts and identifying opportunities to promote equality

Having considered the data and evidence you have gathered, this section requires you to consider the potential impacts – negative and positive – that your policy might have on each of the protected characteristics. It is important to remember the duty is also a positive one – that we must explore whether the policy offers the opportunity to promote equality and/or foster good relations.

Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their age?

Age Positive Negative None Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation     X Changes to housing standards are unlikely to impact on unlawful discrimination related to age.
Advancing equality of opportunity X     The evidence suggests that fire casualty rate is higher for people aged 60 and over than the general population, particularly in relation to fatalities, where the rate is more than twice as high. Therefore, this group is likely to benefit most from changes to housing standards which will mean safer homes with a lower risk of fire than was previously the case.
Promoting good relations among and between different age groups     X Changes to housing standard are unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between different age groups

Do you think that the policy impacts disabled people?

Disability Positive Negative None Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation     X Changes to housing standards are unlikely to impact on unlawful discrimination related to disability.
Advancing equality of opportunity X     The evidence suggests that 42% of households contain at least one long-term sick or disabled LTSD person. This group is likely to benefit from changes to housing standards which will mean safer homes with a lower risk of fire than was previously the case, particularly if any disability reduces mobility, making escaping from a fire more difficult.
Promoting good relations among and between disabled and non-disabled people     X Changes to housing standard are unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between disabled and non- disabled people.

Do you think that the policy impacts on men and women in different ways?

Sex Positive Negative None Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination     X Changes to housing standards are unlikely to impact on unlawful discrimination related to gender.
Advancing equality of opportunity X     The evidence suggests that men have a higher rate of fatal and non-fatal causalities from fires than women, and are therefore likely to benefit more from changes to housing standards which will mean safer homes with a lower risk of fire than was previously the case.
Promoting good relations between men and women     X Changes to housing standard are unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between men and women.

Do you think that the policy impacts on women because of pregnancy and maternity?

Pregnancy and Maternity Positive Negative None Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination     X Changes to housing standards are unlikely to impact on unlawful discrimination related to pregnancy and maternity.
Advancing equality of opportunity X     There is a lack of evidence on the number of pregnant women living in houses across the housing stock. As with all other groups, women in this group are likely to benefit from changes to housing standards which will mean safer homes with a lower risk of fire than was previously the case.
Promoting good relations     X Changes to housing standard are unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between pregnant women and other people.

Do you think your policy impacts on transsexual people?

Gender reassignment Positive Negative None Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination     X Changes to housing standards are unlikely to impact on unlawful discrimination related to gender reassignment.
Advancing equality of opportunity X     There is a lack of evidence on the number of people under the gender reassignment protected characteristic living in houses across the housing stock. As with all other groups, people in this group are likely to benefit from changes to housing standards which will mean safer homes with a lower risk of fire than was previously the case.
Promoting good relations     X Changes to housing standard are unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between transgender people and others.

Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their sexual orientation?

Sexual orientation Positive Negative None Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination     X Changes to housing standards are unlikely to impact on unlawful discrimination related to sexual orientation.
Advancing equality of opportunity X     There is a lack of evidence on the number of people under the sexual orientation protected characteristic living in houses across the housing stock. As with all other groups, people in this group are likely to benefit from changes to housing standards which will mean safer homes with a lower risk of fire than was previously the case.
Promoting good relations     X Changes to housing standard are unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between people of different sexual orientation.

Do you think the policy impacts on people on the grounds of their race?

Race Positive Negative None Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination     X Changes to housing standards are unlikely to impact on unlawful discrimination related to race.
Advancing equality of opportunity X     There is a lack of evidence on the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic ( BAME) people living in houses across the housing stock. As with all other groups, people in this group are likely to benefit from changes to housing standards which will mean safer homes with a lower risk of fire than was previously the case.
Promoting good race relations     X Changes to housing standard are unlikely to impact on the promotion of good race relations.

Do you think the policy impacts on people because of their religion or belief?

Religion or belief Positive Negative None Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination     X Changes to housing standards are unlikely to impact on unlawful discrimination related to religion or belief.
Advancing equality of opportunity X Information relating to the housing of those with religious beliefs is limited.   There is a lack of evidence relating to housing of those with religious beliefs. As with all other groups, people in this group are likely to benefit from changes to housing standards which will mean safer homes with a lower risk of fire than was previously the case.
Promoting good relations     X Changes to housing standard are unlikely to impact on the promotion of good relations between people of religion and belief and others.

Do you think the policy impacts on people because of their marriage or civil partnership?

Marriage and Civil Partnership [4] Positive Negative None Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination       Not required – see footnote

Contact

Email: Agnes Meany, agnes.meany@gov.scot

Phone: 0300 244 4000 – Central Enquiry Unit

The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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