Maurice Golden

10 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on the Scottish Material Flow Accounts and The Circularity Gap Report Scotland from its funding through Zero Waste Scotland.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Zero Waste Scotland states that the cost of the Material Flow Accounts was £35,000 and the cost of the Circularity Gap Report was £130,000.  

10 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the conclusions of Circle Economy's The Circularity Gap Report Scotland, that only 1.3% of the resources Scotland uses are cycled back into the economy, the lowest circularity score of any nation yet assessed.

Answer · Lorna Slater: We welcome the recent Circularity Gap Report which clearly sets out the size of the challenge ahead. The Scottish Government is clear that transitioning to a circular economy is key if we are to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis, and this means reduc…

23 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12876 by Lorna Slater on 20 December 2022, how many of the projects funded through the Recycling Improvement Fund are being delivered wholly or in partnership with commercial partners, and how many applications for project funding were received from…

Answer · Lorna Slater: Currently, five funded projects are being delivered by local authorities in partnership with commercial partners, including third sector and/or for profit organisations: • North Ayrshire • Fife • Aberdeen City (two projects) • East Lothian The funding pr…

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it or its agencies have undertaken to understand the potential impact on glass recycling rates if local authorities cease kerbside collections of glass in light of the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will ensure a higher percentage of glass sent for recycling. Analysis from Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) shows that presently only around 59% of mixed glass is recycled. DRS is expected to capture 80% of glass bottles in the…

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Gateway Review into the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), what consideration it has given to the advice to pursue a "softer" approach to DRS implementation.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Gateway Review was undertaken more than six months ago and has been superseded. A review carried out in October 2022 concluded that “the DRS Programme has gained increased momentum and is in a much improved position” and that go live in August 2023 is now…

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm which local authorities have decided to cease kerbside collection of glass in light of the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme.

Answer · Lorna Slater: All local authorities will consider and monitor the impact of the scheme on glass collection after the implementation of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). Zero Waste Scotland’s advice to local authorities is not to make service changes in advance of Sc…

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether measures contained in its proposed Circular Economy Bill will seek to make local kerbside collections more consistent across local authorities.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government consulted on a Circular Economy Bill and Waste Route Map in summer 2022, setting out proposed actions that must be taken to meet Scotland's waste targets and deliver a circular economy in Scotland. This included a proposal to strengthe…

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it or its agencies have undertaken to understand the potential of material switching to plastic in light of the recently published producer fees for glass, plastic and cans by Circularity Scotland.

Answer · Lorna Slater: There has been no new assessment into the possibility of material switching in light of the recently published producer fees.

20 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13037 by Lorna Slater on 20 December 2022, whether it will provide the information requested regarding whether a dedicated anti-fraud team has been established, either within SEPA or otherwise, to tackle potentially fraudulent activity in relation t…

Answer · Lorna Slater: From 16 August 2023 SEPA will become the enforcement authority for the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland and as part of this will carry out audits, inspections and enforcement activity in relation to the obligations and offences contained within the regu…

20 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13230 by Lorna Slater on 20 December 2022, whether it will provide a breakdown of the estimated net financial gain for each of the 29 local authorities estimated to receive such a benefit.

Answer · Lorna Slater: As stated in my answer to S6W-13230, these calculations are based on commercially sensitive data provided in confidence to ZWS by local authorities. Therefore, we will not provide a breakdown by local authority. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions…

20 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12926 by Lorna Slater on 20 December 2022, how much was spent on each of the campaigns mentioned; how many people each campaign reached; what change in battery recycling rates was measured as a result, and whether it will provide details of any othe…

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS), ‘Batteries Are Better Recycled’ campaign ran in late February and early March 2021. The original campaign cost £7777.87, and reached just under 340,000 people through print and online, and around 192,500 people through social me…

20 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09876 by Lorna Slater on 16 August 2022, which states that "initial investments have the potential to reduce CO2e emissions by 29,746 tonnes each year", and in light of the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and  Biodiversity's letter of 9 …

Answer · Lorna Slater: The investments made to date from the Recycling Improvement Fund have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 32,104 tonnes each year. With support from Zero Waste Scotland, local authorities submit estimated greenhouse gas emission reduction figures, where…

19 Dec 2022 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reported warnings that the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme will be "ruinous for consumers and businesses".

15 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth has met with (a) the Mineral Products Association (Scotland) and (b) representatives from the Scottish aggregates sector in 2022.

Answer · Tom Arthur: No Ministerial meetings took place with the Mineral Products Association (Scotland) or representatives of the Scottish aggregates sector in 2022. However, my Officials have had ongoing engagement with several aggregates sector associations and representative…

15 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what expert opinion it has sought on the potential for disruption to cross-border sales across the UK should a Scottish replacement for the UK Aggregates Levy result in different rates and rules.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The recent public consultation and discussions with stakeholders sought views on a range of issues, including the tax treatment of cross-border movements of aggregate, imports and exports, rates, reliefs and exemptions. The Scottish Government is carefully c…

15 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to establishing a register of quarries.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government will give full consideration to the case for establishing a register of quarries as part of the work underway to develop plans for a devolved replacement for the UK Aggregates Levy.

15 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the response has been from the aggregates and construction sector to the length of time allotted to the consultation on developing a Scottish tax to replace the UK Aggregates Levy.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The public consultation on developing a Scottish tax to replace the UK Aggregates Levy opened on 26 September 2022 and closed on 5 December 2022. Over this 10 week period a total of 25 responses were received which are now being analysed, and a formal consult…

15 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether every household and business in Scotland was physically capable of accessing broadband speeds of at least 30 Mbps as of 31 December 2021.

Answer · Ivan McKee: As of 31 December 2021, all homes and business in Scotland had the ability to access a superfast broadband connection either through the R100 contracts, the demand-led R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) or commercial coverage. Our interim voucher m…

13 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is engaging with the digital deposit return trial being run by Ocado, and whether it has requested that Zero Waste Scotland reviews the results.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government has not engaged with Ocado regarding its digital deposit return trial. We would anticipate that industry will make extensive use of digital technology in delivering our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), for example by developing an IT syst…

13 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of forecast reports conducted by Zero Waste Scotland showing any (a) potential savings and (b) net losses resulting from the forthcoming Deposit Return Scheme in each local authority area.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Modelling by Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) projects that 29 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities will incur a net financial benefit from the implementation of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). Local authorities are also expected to benefit from a reduction in…

10 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there is a need for future monitoring and evaluation of the Deposit Return Scheme and, if so, whether (a) it or (b) Circularity Scotland will fund it.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) Regulations require the Scottish Government to carry out a review of DRS before 1 October 2026. The Scottish Government has commissioned external consumer research to provide a baseline and follow ups on recycling and awarenes…

6 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a dedicated anti-fraud team has been established to tackle potentially fraudulent activity in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme, and when any such team was established.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Circularity Scotland Ltd, as Scheme Administrator, is responsible for anti-fraud arrangements for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). When DRS launches on 16 August 2023, SEPA will become the enforcement authority for DRS. As part of this, SEPA will carr…

2 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what public awareness activities it has undertaken to inform people of the correct disposal method for batteries.

Answer · Lorna Slater: In spring 2021, Zero Waste Scotland ran a campaign, Batteries Are Better Recycled, encouraging the public to recycle batteries, and how to do it correctly. The campaign was delivered through local and national media, videos and digital, alongside proactive e…

2 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on battery recycling collection points in each local authority area. 

Answer · Lorna Slater: Five local authorities (Aberdeenshire, Edinburgh, East Lothian, East Ayrshire & Falkirk) currently provide kerbside household collection of portable batteries. All 32 local authorities accept portable and lead-acid batteries (car batteries) through their Ho…

2 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the separate disposal of batteries from household waste.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Alongside the other UK governments, we are working to reform the producer responsibility system for batteries to increase battery recycling and make it easier for consumers to dispose of batteries responsibly. The four governments will be consulting on our ap…

1 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many retailers are currently using Deposit Return Scheme return points on a voluntary basis.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government does not keep a record of the number of retailers currently operating return points on a voluntary basis. We understand that a number of businesses are trialling or have already trialled the use of reverse vending machines in their p…

1 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many road accidents, where a defective/poor road surface was recorded as a contributory factor, there have been in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In response to your query, my officials have provided the data below as requested. The following table shows the number of accidents where a defective or poor road surface was a contributory factor. Council 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Aberdeen City 0 2…

1 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people in Scotland have claimed unemployment-related benefits in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) age group and (b) local authority area.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Claimant Count is publicly available on www.nomisweb.co.uk , including breakdowns by age group and local authority area in Scotland in each month of the last five years. Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics (nomisweb.co.uk)  

1 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS Scotland patients in each NHS board have been referred for surgical treatment in the rest of the UK in each of the last five years.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: This information is not held centrally. Public Health Scotland do not hold the information that would allow us to identify individuals who have been referred to other countries within the UK.

1 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many companies are currently accredited to carry out home insulation work in each local authority area in Scotland.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. Although there is no statutory accreditation for energy efficiency installers, our Quality Assurance policy statement, which was published on 7 June, included information on the standards, skills and ce…