Scotland slow on race action

While a third of Scotland's public bodies are taking "focused action" to deliver on their new legal duty to promote race equality, just under a third have given "weak off-the-peg responses", says race watchdog the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE).

A third group "have good foundations in place" for favourable race equality outcomes.

The CRE's recent survey, Towards racial equality in Scotland, is the first check on progress in putting into place the provisions of the 2000 Race Relations (Amendment) Act. This requires public bodies - including all local authorities, government departments, health trusts, police forces and education bodies - to promote race equality across their activities.

CRE deputy chair Kay Hampton, said: "The fact that a significant minority appear not to be performing means that if we are to reduce inequality we have to turn up the heat on some public authorities."

The survey found that overall just over a fifth (22%) of Scottish public authorities had not identified race equality outcomes that they will work to achieve. And this rose to more than 50% for education authorities.

On the positive side it found that nine in 10 public bodies said the new duty had already produced benefits, improving wider policy making and service delivery.

The survey also uncovered a "clear correlation" between leadership and progress on race equality.

The CRE found that: "the more active the senior leader, the more substantial the progress."