Socio-economic duty in Scotland


As of 1 April, public bodies in Scotland have to consider the impact that their decisions will have on narrowing socio-economic inequalities.


The Socio-Economic Duty was originally passed by Gordon Brown’s Labour government as part of the Equality Act 2010 but abandoned after the Tory-Lib Dem coalition came to power. 


However, the SNP government has decided to press ahead and apply the duty across the public sector in Scotland. 


Once implemented, it will mean that, whenever they make major decisions, public sector employers in Scotland such as councils, the NHS, Food Standards Scotland, courts and tribunal services, and the police authority must consider what more they can do to reduce poverty and inequality.

www.legislation.gov.uk/sdsi/2018/9780111038086/pdfs/sdsipn_9780111038086_en.pdf