Parliamentary questions
Maurice Golden
1,697 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much glass recyclate from kerbside collections has been (a) used for aggregate and (b) recycled into high-value forms, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Lorna Slater: This data is not held by the Scottish Government. Local authority kerbside collections of glass are mixed with glass from various other sources like recycling centres and commercial collections for reprocessing. This is then aggregated through transfer statio…
4 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what target has been set for ensuring that glass collected through the Deposit Return Scheme is (a) not used for aggregate and (b) recycled into high-value forms, such as bottles.
Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18922 on 22 June 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-committees…
4 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18002 by Mairi McAllan on 31 May 2023, how it plans to fulfil its commitment to “consider how biogenic carbon is included in future research commissioned by the Scottish Government”, as set out in its response to recommendation 15 of the Second Repo…
Answer · Lorna Slater: We will ensure when commissioning any modelling related to greenhouse gas emissions in the resources and waste sector, the role of biogenic carbon is considered, with a view to informing policy decisions. The Scottish Government and SEFARI (Scottish Environm…
4 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15222 by Lorna Slater on 6 March 2023, when it plans to update the guidance to local authorities, and whether it plans for Deposit Return Scheme recycling data to be attributed either to the local authority where a scheme article is returned, or whe…
Answer · Lorna Slater: SEPA will ensure that the Official Statistics for household waste which report against the national household waste recycling targets, will include DRS materials once it is implemented. The DRS scheme has been delayed to October 2025 at the earliest. We ar…
1 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any stipulation to (a) Circularity Scotland and (b) Deposit Return Scheme logistics partners to offset any carbon emissions produced by the scheme’s collection vehicles, and what plans it has to offset any such emissions.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government does not stipulate that private companies have to offset carbon emissions. As Circularity Scotland is a private company, we therefore did not make any stipulation to them that they must offset any such emissions.
1 Jun 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has taken since 2019 to ensure that NHS staff and other health professionals and care providers are informed of Frank’s Law, and whether it will provide details of the budget that has been assigned for this purpose in each year.
Answer · Maree Todd: In the lead up to the introduction of "Frank's Law" in 2019 there were a number of discussions between Scottish Government officials and stakeholders which covered all aspects of the legislation. At the time of its introduction the Scottish Government issued …
24 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17578 by Lorna Slater on 18 May 2023, whether it is aware that, on 24 March 2021, the then Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform wrote to Circularity Scotland stating that “the detailed schedule for you to collect sch…
Answer · Lorna Slater: The letter and anticipated schedule to which the member refers was in the context of a scheme launch date of July 2022. Following an independent Gateway Review in June 2021, the Scottish Government confirmed that it would conduct a review of that go live date…
24 May 2023 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the third sector.
16 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08343 by Lorna Slater on 12 May 2022, when the four reports on steel, referred to in its answer, will be made publicly available, in light of it being over a year since its answer.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Zero Waste Scotland is progressing two life cycle analysis reports of the impact of secondary steel production as an update to the published carbon assessment. The other three reports referred to in the answer to question S6W-08343 have been amalgamated into …
16 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the evidence collected in the call for evidence on single-use food containers and other single-use items.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The evidence gathered through the call for evidence will help inform future policy on how to reduce the use of single-use food containers and other single-use items in order to align, where we are able to do so and in a manner that contributes towards maintai…
16 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) has conducted and (b) plans to conduct an analysis of how successful the ban on single-use plastics has been since it was introduced in 2022.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 came into force in June 2022 as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to move to a more circular economy and tackle the environmental impact of the most problematic …
16 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) plans it made and (b) resources it provided to local authorities to enforce the ban on single-use plastics introduced in 2022.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Enforcement of the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 is the responsibility of local authorities, who have autonomy to allocate the resources available to them based on local needs and priorities. The Scottish G…
16 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the analysis of its call for evidence on single-use food containers and other single-use items, conducted from April to June 2022.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The purpose of the Scottish Government’s call for evidence was to gather evidence to inform policy development on how to reduce consumption of single-use food containers and other single use items. All responses to the call for evidence have been published, w…
16 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce its proposed Circular Economy Bill in the Parliament.
Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17582 on 16 May 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-committees/…
16 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) when and (b) how it anticipates carbon emissions from the burning of plastic in incinerators will reduce, based on the policy interventions in the second report of the independent review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy in Scotland.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The independent review of the role of incineration published a study, alongside its second and final report, that explored the impact of diverting plastics away from incineration. The report is available here: Supporting documents - Decarbonisation of resi…
16 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its acceptance in principle of recommendation 17 of the second report of the independent review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy in Scotland, how it plans to stop the incineration of non-recyclable plastics once these items enter the waste management system.
Answer · Lorna Slater: This information is set out in our response to the second report from the review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy in Scotland: Decarbonisation of Residual Waste infrastructure in Scotland, published on 5 May 2023. Our response is available…
16 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Waste Route Map to 2025 will be published, in light of its consultation stating that the full route map would be published in early 2023.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Circular Economy & Waste Route Map sets out how we intend to deliver our system-wide, comprehensive vision for Scotland's Circular Economy by outlining tangible actions the Scottish Government and others must take to accelerate progress. The responses to…
15 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has made available for early-stage circular textiles projects, in light of reports that the Circular Textiles Fund excludes such projects in its application criteria.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Circular Economy Business Support, provided by Zero Waste Scotland, continues to provide support for textile businesses wishing to develop circular models. Scottish Enterprise also recently published its Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Guide , https://unlockingamb…
15 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications with no capital expenditure elements were successful in the first round of funding from the Circular Textiles Fund broken down by funding awarded.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Support from the Circular Textiles Fund is available without capital expenditure requirements.Applicants from the first round are currently being supported to develop their proposals further, to make best use of the funding.Further information on support for …
15 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has made available for small-scale circular textiles projects with resource needs of less than £25,000.
Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18098 on 5 June 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-committees/…
15 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the period of five weeks was chosen as the timescale for receiving applications for the latest funding round of the Circular Textiles Fund.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The first stage of the Circular Textile Fund is the submission of an Expression of Interest, a high-level overview of the project, and the 5 week timescale provides a suitable amount of time to prepare this. Zero Waste Scotland runs weekly webinars during thi…
15 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate air monitors are installed at schools in each local authority area.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or fine particulate air monitors are installed at schools in each local authority area. The Scottish Government has allocated significant funding of £13.8 million to local a…
13 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17389 by Lorna Slater on 10 May 2023, how the potential financial impact of advanced payments on affected companies was assessed prior to announcing the recent delay to the scheme; whether it will provide (a) details of any experts that were consult…
Answer · Lorna Slater: Circularity Scotland is a private not for profit company. Decisions regarding advanced payments is a matter for them and it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to comment in such commercial arrangements between private companies. One of the …
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17388 by Lorna Slater on 10 May 2023, how many producers are liable for advance payments, and what the sum total is of advance payments liable from producers until the 1 March 2024 launch date.
Answer · Lorna Slater: As Circularity Scotland is a private company, contractual arrangements they have with their members, including any payments as part of their producer agreement, is a matter for them and it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to intervene in s…
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what increase in waste reprocessing capacity has been funded through the Recycling Improvement Fund, broken down by (a) project, (b) capacity increase and (c) funding provided.
Answer · Lorna Slater: RIF funding awards are predominantly still at planning or early implementation stages and there has therefore not yet been an evaluation of the impact of the projects in terms of waste reprocessing capacity (or increased collection for recycling). Information…
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that plastic waste collected through the Deposit Return Scheme is not exported outwith Scotland, in accordance with its acceptance of recommendation 18 of Stop, Sort, Burn, Bury? Independent Review of the Role of Incineration in the Waste Hierarchy in Sc…
Answer · Lorna Slater: There are no regulations to specifically prevent the export of waste collected through DRS. Waste will be channelled to appropriate recycling facilities. Decisions on appropriate recycling facilities are made by Circularity Scotland in delivering the scheme A…
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish details of its consideration of how to include biogenic carbon in future research publications.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: In 2021, Scottish Government published the Strategy for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Research, which has formed the basis for the Strategic Research Programme 2022-2027 and includes consideration of biogenic carbon. Scottish Government has n…
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been provided through Scotland’s Heat Network Fund to support combined heat and power initiatives at incineration plants, broken down by facility.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Scotland’s Heat Network Fund (SHNF) provides funding for primary and secondary heat network infrastructure. This includes projects that utilise waste heat from existing incineration plants to provide low carbon, affordable heat to local consumers. Under the s…
11 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16903 by Lorna Slater on 5 May 2023, for which of the schemes listed the minister has (a) visited the location and (b) met with the relevant chief executive.
Answer · Lorna Slater: Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme has been based on successful schemes across Europe. The Minister has been thoroughly briefed by Zero Waste Scotland on relevant research findings throughout the policy’s development. Research was undertaken by Zero Waste Scot…
10 May 2023 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it educates and engages primary and secondary school pupils on issues related to any disconnects between raw material extraction and end product use.
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Curriculum for Excellence is a flexible curriculum with defined experiences and outcomes that allow for teaching and learning of a very wide range of topics. This ensures that schools are able to deliver a curriculum that is best suited to their learners in t…