Maurice Golden

6 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6T-02027 by Màiri McAllan on 4 June 2024 and her statement that “we are not dropping targets”, whether it will clarify whether this means that it is still committed to meeting both its outstanding 2013 and 2020 household recycling targets as currently …

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government continues to work towards meeting 2013 and 2020 household recycling targets. To help us meet our targets, the Circular Economy Bill and draft Circular Economy and Waste Route Map set out further measures to improve and modernise local…

3 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of a "progress report on delivery" of the recommendations that are set out in the paper, Investor Panel: Scottish Government Response to Investor Panel Recommendations.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has committed to publishing an update on progress on the Investor Panel recommendations and intends to do this in the coming months. The update will be published on the Scottish Government’s Investor Panel webpage.

3 Jun 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23922 by Mairi McAllan on 11 January 2024, whether it will provide an update on the work being undertaken to assess options and costings for resolving water deficits in each water zone.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, and the Scottish Government does not hold this information, I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows: Scottish Water is currently developing its Long Term Strategy, due for publication in Ja…

3 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to maximise value obtained from public sector procurement.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Scotland continues to use public procurement to achieve a vast range of positive economic, social and environmental outcomes making Scotland a better place to live, work and do business. Latest available figures show that our £16 billion public procurement s…

27 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how the census outputs on Armed Forces veterans, due to be released on 13 June, will be able to be used to inform a better understanding of the veterans community.

24 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of any variations granted to allow increased incineration capacities at operational incineration facilities in Scotland, since the publication of the Independent Review of the Role of Incineration in the Waste Hierarchy in Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Permitting is a matter for the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), who make this information available in the public domain here: Find an Authorisation Document | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) .  

24 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to potentially using the pollution prevention and control permit system to establish a waste hierarchy that prioritises the most circular and sustainable incineration methods and outputs.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The waste hierarchy already has provision for different types of thermal treatment technology. For example, while incineration without energy recovery is classed as disposal, energy from waste processes (producing usable electricity and/or heat) can be classe…

24 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-23750 by Lorna Slater on 19 December 2023, whether the criteria relating to such "exceptional circumstances" is set out in legislation, or whether it is a matter of convention.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The circumstances for the use of the direction-making powers in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are not set out in legislation, nor are they a matter of convention. In deciding whether or not to use these powers, Ministers would consider a range of fact…

24 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities it has identified to exceed current EU standards in encouraging sustainable energy production from commercial, industrial and waste management sources.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining alignment with the EU where such alignment would be possible and meaningful in protecting and advancing the standards we share. On waste management sources of energy, where waste is unavoidable and unrecyc…

24 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the latest incineration capacity analysis, which is being conducted by Zero Waste Scotland as part of its work in considering the delivery of the ban on biodegradable municipal waste to landfill, to be published.

Answer · Gillian Martin: As part of the work to deliver the ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste, Zero Waste Scotland commissioned a report which included an updated capacity analysis. Zero Waste Scotland is currently reviewing the report to ensure that it does not conta…

15 May 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what elements it has identified that led to it not meeting its household recycling targets in 2013 and 2020.

14 May 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22282 by Lorna Slater on 14 November 2023, whether it will provide an update on which local authorities have contracts in place to comply with the delayed ban on biodegradable municipal waste to landfill.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Local authorities are responsible for the provision of local waste services and are, therefore, best placed to comment on readiness to comply with the ban on sending biodegradable municipal waste to landfill in 2025. The Scottish Government continues to prov…

16 Apr 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting culture in the North East Scotland region.

31 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether carbon impact is a material consideration when selecting contractors to carry out restoration work funded through Peatland ACTION.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: All restoration work funded through Peatland ACTION is subject to Sustainable Procurement Duty outlined in Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 . Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk) Operational decisions on procuring contractors to…

31 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of (a) public, (b) private and (c) third sector delivery partners appointed for Peatland ACTION, including their appointment date.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Peatland ACTION direct delivery partners are: Cairngorms National Park Authority, Forestry and Land Scotland, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, NatureScot and Scottish Water. NatureScot managed Peatland ACTION on an annual basis until …

31 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what vetting process is used when appointing delivery partners for Peatland ACTION.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: All Peatland ACTION delivery partners are subject to relevant Scottish Contracts Legislation. NatureScot managed Peatland ACTION funding on an annual basis until FY 2021-2022. In order to increase our restoration rates, the Scottish Government made the decis…

31 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the concerns raised by stakeholders in the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee evidence session on 16 January 2024 regarding the effectiveness of environmental governance, and to the recommendation made by the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland proposin…

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government consulted on its Report into the Effectiveness of Environmental Governance last year. The report outlines the Scottish Government’s position on maintaining the balance of parliamentary, administrative and judicial roles in decision mak…

29 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the geographic coverage of police officers trained to handle dangerous dogs for the purposes of enforcing rules on XL Bully dogs.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: As noted in my response to S6W-25097 on 16 February 2024, it is a matter for Police Scotland to consider the enforcement of the new safeguards in relation to XL Bully dogs and any operational issues that arise. Every incident presented to Police Scotland is …

29 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a veterinary surgery is regarded as a public place for the purposes of the rules regarding XL Bully dogs, and, if so, what allowances have been made to allow muzzles to be removed for the purposes of examination by a vet.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: Section 10 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 defines “public place” as any street, road or other place (whether or not enclosed) to which the public have, or are permitted to have access, whether for payment or otherwise and includes the common parts of a buildi…

29 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what options exist to expedite court cases involving XL Bully dogs, in order to avoid any long periods of kennelling.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government takes animal welfare very seriously and is committed to the highest possible welfare standards. There is however a balance to be struck between protecting animal welfare and protecting public safety. The scheduling of court cases is a…

27 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the compulsory microchipping of pet cats.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government’s Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats recommends that all cat owners should consider neutering and microchipping their pets as the best way of being reunited with their rightful owners, should they be separated. The Scottish Anim…

26 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26076 by Maree Todd on 22 March 2024, whether it will confirm if the data provided on waiting times includes those referred to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) for both mental health issues and neurodevelopmental issues.

Answer · Maree Todd: As set out in the most recent Public Health Scotland (PHS) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting times quarterly publication, CAMHS is classified as multi-disciplinary teams that provide treatment and interventions for children and young…

26 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the research used as the basis for the reported comments of the Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work, during the March 2024 Scotonomics Festival of Economics, that Scotland will "potentially not even have the population capacity to deal with the amou…

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government has not conducted any specific research on the question of whether Scotland’s population has the capacity to deal with the number of jobs created from the energy transition. However, it is clear that Scotland is facing a set of long-t…

22 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26073 by Lorna Slater on 21 March 2024, how much targeted funding it has provided to SMEs in the construction sector to provide retraining and upskilling for workers.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government invests significantly in skills development, including through a £2.4 billion investment in the post-school education and skills system. This includes £200 million for Skills Development Scotland to deliver against Scottish Government …

22 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26073 by Lorna Slater on 21 March 2024, what proportion of the green jobs required in the construction sector identified in the report are estimated to be as a result of its policy initiatives.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Of the 2.5m jobs in Scotland, the research mapped nearly 40% of those as green jobs. Of those green jobs, 13% were classified as ‘new and emerging’ construction sector jobs, 12% were ‘enhanced skills and knowledge’ construction sector jobs, and 25% were ‘incr…

18 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of canine breeding services operating in Scotland over the last five years.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government has not undertaken any assessment of the number of canine fertility businesses operating in Scotland over the last five years. Responses to our recent animal licensing consultation indicated that there are potentially hundreds across t…

18 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to strengthen the ability of (a) local authorities and (b) other relevant bodies to enforce animal welfare regulations.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government continues to engage regularly with local authorities and relevant bodies to ensure enforcement of animal welfare regulations.  

15 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many electric school buses it has supported each local authority to purchase, in each of the past three years.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Local authorities receive funding via the local government block grant to enable them to meet their statutory obligations, including the provision of home to school transport. Local authorities are responsible for decisions about the purchase of vehicles. The…

15 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what targeted funding it is providing to local authorities to purchase electric school buses.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Local authorities receive funding via the local government block grant to enable them to meet their statutory obligations, including the provision of home to school transport. Local authorities are responsible for decisions about the purchase of vehicles. The…

15 Mar 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what material support it plans to provide towards a pilot scheme proposed by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh to establish air quality monitors in select schools in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of effective and comprehensive air quality monitoring. Although there are no specific plans to provide material support for this project, we welcome research which contributes to the evidence base around the h…