In December 2015, the Scottish Government published Equality Statement. Scottish Draft Budget 2016-17.
The foreword states:
The UK Spending Review in November 2015 signalled further reductions in the Scottish Government’s spending power and the UK Government’s continued austerity agenda, outside the frontline health budget, has led to sustained real terms cuts to our budget. We have had to make difficult decisions as a result, while protecting key investments and new priorities, as set out in detail in our Draft Budget for 2016-17.
At times like this, the equality assessment of a Draft Budget becomes ever more important. It is the potential and cumulative impacts of these difficult decisions on equality that are discussed in this, the seventh Equality Statement published by the Scottish Government.
