10/08/2009
Equality in national policy
This section outlines the Equality Network's priorities for 'mainstreaming' LGBT equality in national policy in Scotland.
'Mainstreaming' equality means making sure that equality is considered at all stages of development and delivery of public services, and by everyone involved in those services. It means that equality is not a bolt-on extra, but runs throughout policy development and service provision. Public services have failed if they do not deliver fairly for all sections of the community.
This is not the same thing as providing the service in the same way for everyone. Services need to be provided appropriately for the different people using them.
The Equality Network has a focus on ensuring that LGBT equality is mainstreamed in particular areas of national policy and service provision in Scotland. These include:
the national budget process
the work of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
considering the LGBT equality impact of all national policy consultations
constitutional issues (the impact of the devolution settlement and possible future developments)
The other national LGBT organisations -
LGBT Youth Scotland
and
Stonewall Scotland
- and within the Equality Network the
Scottish Transgender Alliance
project, also do much work on mainstreaming LGBT equality in public services, including national policy, education, health and other services.
The national budget
The Equality Network is a member of the Scottish Government's
Equality and Budget Advisory Group
. We work to encourage consideration of the impact of national budget decisions on LGBT people.
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
The
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
(COPFS) is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland, the investigation of sudden or suspicious deaths, and the investigation of complaints against the police.
The Equality Network's policy project coordinator is a member of the
COPFS Equality Advisory Group
, and we work to encourage mainstreaming of LGBT equality throughout the work of COPFS.
National policy consultations
The Equality Network works to ensure that LGBT voices are heard in consultations about national policy in Scotland. This includes consultations by the Scottish Government and Parliament, the UK Government and Parliament, and other organisations influencing national policy in Scotland.
We respond to consultations on policies that impact on LGBT equality. Copies of our responses can be found in the
Briefings
section of this website.
We encourage LGBT people and groups to respond directly to consultations via our
network
.
The constitution of Scotland and the UK
The division of responsibility for equality, between the Scottish Government and the UK Government, and between the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament, is set by the Scotland Act 1998. The prohibition and regulation of discrimination are currently reserved to the UK Government and Parliament.
Developments in the constitutional arrangements for Scotland and the UK may affect powers and responsibilities for equality.