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Our work in Scotland

In this section you can read all about the work of the Commission in Scotland.

Commission in Scotland priorities 2018 to 2019

Scotland benefits greatly from the work that the Commission delivers across Great Britain as a whole. Our team work closely with colleagues in England and Wales on programmes spanning the public and private sector, domestic and international human rights and in using our legal powers. The Commission’s priorities for 2018 to 2019 are set out in our business plan.

The Scotland Directorate

There are 20 staff in the Scotland Directorate made up of legal, policy, parliamentary, communications and business support.

We work on a wide variety of issues important to the people of Scotland, as set out in our annual Business Plan and our Strategic Plan.

As well as delivering on all our core policy, communications, parliamentary and legal activities, our priorities for 2018 to 2019 include:

Progression of equality and human rights 

Ensure that constitutional changes – such as Brexit, further devolving powers to Scotland, and the proposed British Bill of Rights – lead to coherent arrangements which maximise the promotion and progression of equality and human rights.  

Support recommendations for change to the Public Sector Equality Duty Specific Duties

The Commission in Scotland has carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Scottish Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) Specific Duties to provide evidence to support recommendations for change to the specific duties. We will aim to influence decision makers with these recommendations in 2018 and 2019.

Improve access to justice and transfer our expertise to help advisers and lawyers 

We aim to expand access to justice by making equality and human rights advice advice and assistance more available to individuals, for example, through advice providers across Scotland.

We aim to transfer our expertise through a programme of conferences, seminars, training events and online training resources for advisers and lawyers across Scotland.

Make sure Scotland is included in the Commission's activity 

We aim to ensure that Scotland is effectively included in the Commission’s treaty monitoring activity. Scotland will support the Commission in meeting its status an ‘A’ status National Human Rights Institution.

Promote findings of our housing inquiry 

We will promote the findings of the Scotland element of our housing inquiry, about how housing policy enables disabled people to live independently.

Promote equality of opportunity in Scotland 

We aim to promote fairness and equality of opportunity in Scotland's economy and labour market. We will work to ensure that equality is central to the delivery of the Fair Work Convention, the Business Pledge and Healthy Working Lives.

The Scotland Committee

The Scotland Committee has delegated responsibilities in providing information, advice and guidance and conducting research in Scotland and for advising the Scottish Government about the effect of Scottish legislation.

The Committee also advises on the impact of the Commission’s wider work in Scotland, through consultation by the Board of Commissioners on matters affecting people in Scotland and through advice and support to the Scotland Directorate.

In the coming year, the Scotland Committee will continue their programme of engagement around Scotland and will:

  • advise the Board of Commissioners on the work of the Commission in so far as it affects Scotland

  • consider proposals from the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and Members of Scottish Parliament, for example, in relation to social security and constitutional changes, such as the UK’s exit from the EU

  • continue to engage with stakeholders in Scotland on delivering improvements in the priority issues arising from Is Scotland Fairer? (2018) and support the work to develop our new strategic plan

  • advise on the key strategies being developed and delivered across the Commission in 2018 to 2019, including those that have been agreed as part of our new domain-based approach

  • seek to maximise social returns, in terms of jobs and housing, on the significant public and private sector investment, using the City Deals as an example.

Last updated: 27 Nov 2018