Ministers imposed a duty on public bodies to consider the impact of their actions on disadvantaged people

Changing the law to force public bodies to reduce inequality amounted to little more than “wishful thinking”, an investigation has found.

The Equalities Commission said that while attempts by SNP ministers to embed new duties to promote social and economic equity in legislation were positive in their intent, they made little measurable impact in practice.

Ministers have imposed a general duty on public bodies such as councils, police and the NHS to consider the impact of their actions on disadvantaged people. The legislation was passed by the previous Labour-run UK government but never implemented by the Conservatives.

Scottish ministers gained the powers to impose the duty after the independence referendum, and it came into force in April. Similar duties were previously incorporated into four pieces