Maurice Golden

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its publication, Free Personal and Nursing Care, Scotland, 2022-23, for what reason 25% of Care at Home clients aged 18-64 were not in receipt of Free Personal Care as at 31 March 2023.

Answer · Maree Todd: Free Personal and Nursing Care, Scotland, 2022-23, is a statistical publication which presents the latest client and expenditure figures for Free Personal and Nursing Care (FPNC). The data collection does not include information which would allow us to identi…

7 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its publication, Free Personal and Nursing Care, Scotland, 2022-23, for what reason care home residents aged 65 and over were "far more likely to receive FPNC payments than those aged 18 to 64".

Answer · Maree Todd: Free Personal and Nursing Care, Scotland, 2022-23 is a statistical publication which presents the latest client and expenditure figures for Free Personal and Nursing Care (FPNC). The data collected does not include information which would allow us to explain …

6 Sep 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in removing highly combustible cladding from buildings.

25 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the staff attrition rate in (a) public sector and (b) publicly-funded bodies in each of the past three years.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not routinely gather or centrally hold information on staff attrition rates across all public sector, or publicly funded, bodies. National Statistics on employment across the public sector in Scotland, including headcount by dev…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on classifying different end uses for steel as either socially beneficial or harmful.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government does not currently have a position on classifying different end uses for steel. As part of the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan we are considering consultation responses and relevant research, including those relating to steel …

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the Scottish National Investment Bank’s investment activity has been used to support companies able to demonstrate both carbon and material savings.

Answer · Neil Gray: National Investment Bank sets out in detail its approach to assessing its impact, and its impact to date, in its annual Impact Report. That sets out how the Bank works across its portfolio to assess emissions generated, to support emissions mitigation and to …

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Scotland’s rail (a) track, (b) vehicle kilometres and (c) freight journeys are electrified.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In Scotland 40.7% single-track railway kilometres are electrified. The Scottish Government does not hold vehicle kilometres information centrally, however some 76% of passenger journeys are made by electric train. The volume, route and traction type for rai…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a breakdown by local authority area of (a) the number of loans granted through the Energy Saving Trust e-bike loan scheme in each year since it was launched, (b) the value of those loans and (c) how many loans have been defaulted, and the value of any defaults.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The following data is accurate up to the end of July 2023: Number and value of loans by local authority: LOCAL AUTHORITY PAID (£) NUMBER PAID TOTAL PAID (£) TOTAL NUMBER PAID BUSINESS DOMESTIC BUSINESS DOMESTIC Aberdeen City  £ 224,230  73 £ 224…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the amount of critical minerals required for its transport policies.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Research published in 2020 (commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland in partnership with Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise) assessed the current and future use of batteries in Scotland across the length of the battery supply chain, however no specific ass…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the proportion of total journeys that will be made by bus by 2030 as a result of its policies.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The appraisal that supported the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) assessed the change in access public transport use and accessibility at a national and regional level to a range of locations, including health care; education and employment …

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown by the country of manufacturer of the electric vehicles that are used across its fleet.

Answer · Shona Robison: We do not hold information in which country each vehicle was manufactured.

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many new (a) fossil fuel-powered, (b) electric and (c) other low emission technology vehicles were purchased across the public sector fleet in each of the past five years.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Scottish Government fleet purchases for the last 5 years, broken down by category, are provided in the following table. Year Diesel Petrol Hybrid Electric Range Extender Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) 2018 8 0…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the quantity of any critical minerals captured through urban mining in each of the past three years in Scotland.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Urban mining” is not a term that is in use by the Scottish Government, but we understand it to refer to the recovery of critical raw materials from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The WEEE Regulations 2013, which are the regulations underpi…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of electric vehicle batteries reaching the end of their first life it expects to be caught by domestic reprocessing options by (a) 2035 and (b) 2050.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Research published in 2020 (commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland in partnership with Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise) assessed the current and future use of batteries in Scotland across the entire length of the battery supply chain, from chemicals t…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of any meetings that it has held with original equipment manufacturers of electric vehicle batteries in the past three years to explore opportunities to site manufacturing and/or reprocessing facilities in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As part of its regular engagements with the Scottish and global battery supply chain, Scottish Enterprise have held meetings with AMTE which Scottish Government officials have joined. The relevant information will be placed in SPICe bib number 64366.

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has carried out since 2021 to identify potential second-life stationary storage applications for electric vehicle batteries.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Research published in 2020 (commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland in partnership with Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise) assessed the current and future use of batteries in Scotland across the entire length of the battery supply chain, from manufacturi…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to explore the potential for lithium refining in Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Officials and our Enterprise Agencies are open to dialogue with potential inward investors in the lithium refining sector and we are committed to exploring all commercially viable proposals to establish lithium refining capacity in Scotland.  

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in developing a domestic recycling infrastructure for (a) electric vehicle and (b) other types of batteries.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Since 2018, the Scottish Government, through Zero Waste Scotland, has supported 4 companies with an interest in battery reprocessing/recycling through the European Regional Development Fund at a total cost of around 67500. Through the Just Transition Fund, we…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support research and development of Scotland-based processing centres to test and reassemble used lithium batteries for reuse.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Zero Waste Scotland has worked with Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise to produce three reports , published in 2021, forming the series ‘Battery use in Scotland now and in the future’. Further to the original three reports, Transport Scotland (in p…

22 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is assisting efforts to explore potential reserves of critical minerals in Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of critical minerals for the future prosperity of Scotland. Critical mineral mining relates to powers reserved to the UK Government, and the Scottish Government is supportive of the UK Critical Minerals Strat…

16 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) calls have been made to the Dumb Dumpers hotline and (b) prosecutions for fly-tipping have resulted from calls made to the hotline, in each year since it was launched.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Dumb Dumpers Hotline, which closed earlier this year, was one of a number of ways for members of the public to report flytipping, The following table shows the number of reports made through the Dumb Dumpers Hotline only. Year* Calls Time Period 2017 …

16 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20139 by Jenni Minto on 15 August 2023, whether it will provide an update on the composition and activity of the task group considering indoor air quality, as outlined in the report, Cleaner Air for Scotland 2.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Developing an approach to address indoor air quality is a long term action in Cleaner Air for Scotland 2, due to be completed by 2026. The Scottish Government, with support from Public Health Scotland, will consider how to take forward this action during 2024.

16 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an impact assessment of proposals to introduce a charge on single-use cups will be carried out before the end of 2023.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Work on a range of impact assessments to inform proposals to introduce a charge on single-use beverage cups will begin this year.

15 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the financial appraisal of the proposed Scottish Veterinary Service will conclude, and whether the findings will be published in detail or summary format.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to the creation of a Scottish Veterinary Service (SVS) to ensure there are highly trained staff to provide Scotland with good animal health and food safety to meet all our needs across the public and private sector for ani…

1 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of identity theft have been reported over the past year, and what action it is taking to help prevent further incidents.

Answer · Angela Constance: Identity theft is a form of fraud and prosecuted under the general offence of fraud. As such, specific information is not routinely collected on identity theft. However, in 2018-19, a one-off detailed analysis of crimes of dishonesty was carried out by the Sc…

20 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made regarding whether constrained availability of lithium carbonate could affect its commitment to phase out the need for new diesel and petrol vehicles by 2030.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The decarbonisation of transport is expected to- continue to increase demand for electric vehicles (EVs), and therefore EV batteries. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of critical minerals for electric vehicle batteries however, it is expected…

20 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much targeted funding for sustainable textiles projects it has budgeted (a) for 2023-24 and (b) beyond 2023-24.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government has budgeted £1.1m for the Circular Textiles Fund for 2023-24. The fund is being administered by Zero Waste Scotland on the Scottish Government’s behalf. Future budget allocations beyond 2023-24 will be confirmed through the annual bu…

20 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out into indoor air quality in public buildings, and what plans it has to carry out any further such research.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government COVID-19 Adaptations Expert Group have highlighted that there is a lack of information on ventilation performance and subsequent indoor air quality for existing buildings. We are considering advice from the expert group to address thi…

20 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many illicit (a) e-cigarettes and (b) vapes have been seized in Scotland in the past three years, broken down by year and local authority area.

Answer · Jenni Minto: This is a matter for Local Authorities. The information requested is not held centrally. However, you may find it helpful to contact The Society for Chief Trading Standards Officers in Scotland (SCOTSS) who may be able to assist you with this request.

13 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Zero Waste Scotland report, Circular Steel in Scotland: Current landscape and opportunities.

Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19946 on 3 August 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…