These Regulations set out a list of public authorities in Scotland that will be subject to the public sector duty regarding socio-economic inequalities in Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. These include the Scottish Ministers.

The duty is to have due regard to the desirability of exercising functions in a way that is designed to reduce the inequalities of outcome which result from socio-economic disadvantage. Section 1(6) of the Act provides an exception, where the inequality is experienced by a person as a result of being a person subject to immigration control.