Maurice Golden

24 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its Programme for Government commitment on delivering local nature networks will be delivered and resourced; what timeframes are associated with these, and how they will be coordinated with the National Planning Framework, new Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, Regional Land Use Partner…

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government is committed to the creation and improvement of Nature Networks across Scotland. Nature Networks will be developed and delivered through local partnerships, and will support ecological connectivity within and between National Parks, P…

24 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its high-level ambitions on nature, set out in its Programme for Government, Statement of Intent on Biodiversity, National Strategy for Economic Transformation and Draft National Planning Framework 4, that aim to tackle the nature and climate crises holistically, will be supporte…

Answer · Lorna Slater: We recognise that the high-level ambitions we have to tackle the twin nature and climate crises need to be supported with adequate funding. This is why we have already committed to invest an additional £500 million in the natural economy over the course of th…

20 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the inclusion of Tetrapak in the Deposit Return Scheme. 

Answer · Lorna Slater: We remain open to expanding the scope of materials to be included in Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), once the current core scheme is firmly established.

20 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been carried out of the cost of introducing a digital deposit return scheme, following the launch of the proposed Deposit Return Scheme.

Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06074 on 17 February 2022. 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-commit…

20 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been carried out of the cost of retrofitting an expanded range of materials such as Tetrapak, following the launch of a Deposit Return Scheme.

Answer · Lorna Slater: An analysis of the potential costs and benefits of expanding the range of materials captured in Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will form part of any research carried out should we consider such a change to the scheme.

8 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Dogs Trust's recommendation that border checks of animals must include a visual check to ensure that the animal is the same as listed on the passport, is the age stated and is being transported in acceptable conditions, and what plans it has to implemen…

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: At present no assessment has been made by the Scottish Government in relation to the Dog’s Trust recommendations. However, it should be noted that the Scottish Government, in conjunction with the Animal Health Protection Agency (APHA), UK Government and othe…

8 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Zero Waste Scotland developed a communications strategy for the proposed Deposit Return Scheme before the appointment of a scheme administrator, and, if not, what the current status of that work is.

Answer · Lorna Slater: During the development phase of Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), Zero Waste Scotland developed a dedicated DRS microsite ( https://depositreturnscheme.zerowastescotland.org.uk/ ) and targeted communications with a range of sectors involved in the scheme. As re…

3 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of grant support options for SME hospitality businesses seeking to fund expansion and growth projects.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Hospitality businesses, like all other businesses, may seek advice on SME funding sources from the Business Gateway ( https://www.bgateway.com/ ) who have a network of offices across Scotland and will tailor the advice dependant on the particular business n…

21 Feb 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote the welfare of dogs.

19 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it records when special advisers are asked to comment on freedom of information requests and, if (a) so, how many times this happened in each of the last three years and (b) not, what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · George Adam: Our decision-making criteria agreed between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Information Commissioner defines the roles and responsibilities of different parties in relation to FOI request handling, including the role of Special Advisers in providing …

15 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the amount spent on initiatives to promote the re-use of electrical waste in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Scottish Government does not hold information which provides a breakdown of spending on initiatives to promote the re-use of electrical waste.  

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05517 by Lorna Slater on 24 January 2022, whether the 27% figure was calculated without accounting for landfill releasing less biogenic CO2 than incineration, and what its position is on this matter.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The treatment of biogenic carbon is detailed in Section 2.1 of the technical note to the report, which was carried out in line with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology. Both the report and technical note are available on the Zero Wast…

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05517 by Lorna Slater on 24 January 2022, regarding the estimated 27% lower impact of incineration over landfill, whether it will confirm that this involves an underlying assumption that (a) it is an estimate of historical (circa 2018) impacts rathe…

Answer · Lorna Slater: All the underlying assumptions used in the analysis, including the information requested by the member, are available in the Zero Waste Scotland report The Climate Change Impacts of Burning Municipal Waste in Scotland and the accompanying technical report. Bo…

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the amount of (a) waste incinerated and (b) electricity exported at each municipal waste incinerator in Scotland in each of the last three years.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Please see a breakdown of the available data for a) and b) Waste Incinerated and electricity produced at MWIs 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 1. Waste incinerated by site (Tonnes) The following data is from Waste Data Returns. Please refer to attached table whic…

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether municipal waste incinerators in Scotland are currently required to accurately measure direct CO2 emissions through the use of calibrated flow rates and calibrated CO2 continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS), and, if not, what plans there are to require this, in line with t…

Answer · Lorna Slater: As per S6W-06417 answered on 28 February 2022 , measurement of CO2 emissions using calibrated flow meters and CEMS is not a current requirement in SEPA permits for existing MWIs. All SEPA Permits for existing sites must comply with the requirements of the Wa…

8 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown for the most recent year for which data is available of direct CO2 emissions recorded through calibrated flow rates and calibrated CO2 continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) from each municipal waste incinerator in Scotland; what proportion of …

Answer · Lorna Slater: There is no requirement for the direct measurements of CO2 via calibrated flow meters and calibrated CO2 CEMS in SEPA permits for municipal waste incinerators (MWI) in Scotland. The requested information is therefore not available either in total, or as a bre…

2 Feb 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether a producer registration system has been established for its Deposit Return Scheme, and, if not, when one will be established.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Under the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020, producers must register with SEPA either directly or via a scheme administrator for their products to be sold legally onto the Scottish market. In line with the full implementation date that I…

28 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05700 by Lorna Slater on 26 January 2022, whether it will confirm, regardless of whether there was a revised launch date or not, whether the minister was aware that there would be a delay to the Deposit Return Scheme (a) on, (b) prior or (c) after 1…

Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05700 on 26 January 2022. 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-committ…

27 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05593 by Lorna Slater on 24 January 2022, whether it will confirm whether it holds details of estimated preparedness times for any individual businesses in Scotland, and, if so, whether it will provide that information.

Answer · Lorna Slater: As part of the review into the implementation date for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) we carried out intensive scrutiny of Circularity Scotland Ltd’s (CSL) implementation programme, including through the Gateway Review and Assurance of Action Plan, as…

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05595 by Lorna Slater on 25 January 2022 and without seeking information on Circularity Scotland Ltd’s procurement decisions, whether it will confirm the date on which the minister was made aware that procurement documents indicating a 2023 launch d…

Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05595 on 25 January 2022. 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-committ…

25 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment was carried out to ascertain the suitability of digital technologies for inclusion in the deposit return scheme; which technologies were assessed; what assessment method was used, and who carried out each assessment, and when.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Decisions regarding the use of technology to operate Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) are for industry to take in line with the principle of producer responsibility. We would anticipate that industry will make extensive use of digital technology in del…

21 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times civil servants met, including virtually and in person, operators of deposit return schemes, broken down by (a) when the meetings took place and (b) which operators were involved, between 16 March 2020 and 14 December 2021.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Officials did not have any meetings with operators of overseas deposit return schemes (DRS) in the time period specified. Evidence from other international schemes has played an important role in our decision-making regarding Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme…

21 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government with which external organisations (not including Zero Waste Scotland) did the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity meet, including virtually and in person, to discuss the deposit return scheme, broken down by (a) the number of meetings that were held with each org…

Answer · Lorna Slater: This information is available here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202100267407/ .

19 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in establishing a SEPA operated producer registration system for the Deposit Return Scheme.

Answer · Lorna Slater: SEPA maintains a robust programme structure to plan, track, and deliver the regulator function for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), including delivery of a producer registration system. SEPA is making good progress in establishing this system in time t…

19 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the chair of the review into the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy in Scotland plans to meet with members of the waste industry and/or their representatives before the deadline for the call for evidence on 21 February 2022.

Answer · Lorna Slater: As independent Chair, it is for Dr Church to determine and manage the process of the review. I am, therefore, unable to respond on his behalf regarding the number of meetings he will hold with waste industry representatives. However, Dr Church has assured me…

19 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the chair of the review into the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy in Scotland has met with members of the waste industry and/or their representatives since 1 September 2021.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Dr Colin Church was appointed as independent Chair of the review into the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy in Scotland in November 2021. As independent Chair, it is for Dr Church to determine and manage the process of the review. I am, therefore, …

18 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of what the municipal recycling capacity in Scotland (a) has been in each of the last 10 years and (b) is projected to be by 2025.

Answer · Lorna Slater: SEPA publish the waste sites and capacity data via a tool on their website to provide capacity information about permitted waste sites across Scotland, which includes recycling facilities. The waste sites and capacity tool is available here: https://www.sepa…

11 Jan 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what staffing resources it has allocated to the preparation work for a new independence referendum.

11 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-05229 by Lorna Slater on 11 January 2022, on what date the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity took the decision to postpone the scheme, rather than the date on which the decision was communicated to the Parliament.

Answer · Lorna Slater: In a statement to the Scottish Parliament on 17 November 2022 I gave an update on progress towards implementing Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme. In that statement I said that officials and I were working hard with Circularity Scotland and the industry to agr…

8 Jan 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity was first made aware that Circularity Scotland reportedly issued procurement documentation for a deposit return system with a launch date of summer 2023.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Since coming into post in August 2021 I have worked intensively with industry and stakeholders to agree a project plan that we can have confidence in to deliver Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). This has included frequent engagement with Circularity Sco…