Maurice Golden

19 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of non-hazardous soil sent to landfill in each of the last three years originated from (a) urban and (b) rural sources.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not held centrally. Landfill operators report total tonnage of wastes deposited broken down by European Waste Catalogue code to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency but they do not report the origin of each load of waste.  

7 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the proposed 20p deposit across all sizes of containers could have on the (a) purchasing habits of consumers with low incomes, (b) marginal propensity to consume different sizes of containers and (c) number of consumers purchasing multi-pack aluminium cans instead of 1.5 and …

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: When developing proposals to establish a deposit return scheme, the Scottish Government has been clear about the need to distinguish between the price of products and the proposed deposit level. That is why it is our intention to require that the deposit leve…

29 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines a low-carbon job, and how many such jobs there have been in each of the last five years.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Employment in the low carbon economy is defined by the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) as full-time equivalent jobs in economic activities that deliver goods and services that generate significantly lower emissions of greenhouse gases; predominantly ca…

29 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what review it has conducted of the effectiveness of its most recent guidance on the use of electronic shock collars, and when it plans to make the findings public.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government committed to reviewing the effectiveness of the guidance on dog training aids in preventing welfare compromises due to aversive training methods after 12 months and in light of the experience of enforcement authorities. The Guidance wa…

29 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions used its most recent guidance on the use of electronic shock collars for dogs since it was published.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Crown Office Prosecution Service have advised that there have been no prosecutions for unnecessary suffering under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 relating to the use of electronic training aids since 1 October 2018. Information on the u…

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to treat online marketplaces in relation to returns in its planned deposit return scheme.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Where a single-use drinks container sold online is delivered to a consumer in Scotland, a deposit will be applied to that container. Retailers that provide a delivery service will be required to provide a doorstep takeback service. We are considering further …

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what level of financial guarantee it will provide for its planned deposit return scheme.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Deposit return represents a cost effective mechanism through which businesses will meet their producer responsibility obligations to manage packaging at end of life. In line with the principle of extended producer responsibility, it is for producers rather th…

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it has done of the impact of its planned deposit return scheme on (a) the drinks market, (b) changes in the cost of drinks containers, (c) the range of drinks available to consumers, (d) consumer finances and (e) the marginal propensity to consume drinks.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government will shortly publish: a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment offering an analysis of the costs and benefits to business associated with implementation of a deposit return scheme; an Equality Impact Assessment outlining the impact …

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the differential is between the cost of handling glass containers and their market value to its planned deposit return scheme.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government published its Deposit Return Scheme Full Business Case Stage 1 on 8 May 2019. That Business Case sets out the cost to producers of operating the scheme once all revenues generated from unredeemed deposits and material sales are account…

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost implications are for (a) the retail industry and (b) hospitality and food-to-go businesses of including glass drinks containers in the scope of its planned deposit return scheme.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government’s proposals are based on retailers receiving a handling fee to cover their costs. Hospitality businesses will be reimbursed the costs of any consumables required when acting as a return point and will accrue a benefit from having free …

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the introduction of its planned deposit return scheme will have on the frequency of household collections.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government’s Deposit Return Scheme Full Business Case Stage 1 was published on 8 May 2019 and includes assessment of the range of impacts on local authorities as a result of the introduction of a deposit return scheme. We continue to discuss thos…

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether businesses paying producer fees into its planned deposit return scheme will also be required to pay into the current PRN (Packaging Recovery Note) system.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We are working with the UK Government on the interaction between DRS and the existing packaging obligations. Our intention is that producers will not pay into the PRN system for containers obligated under the DRS .

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received assurances that the deposit in its planned deposit return scheme will not be subject to VAT.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is clear that the desired outcome is that the deposit should not be subject to VAT. Discussions are ongoing with the UK Government to reach a final position on this matter.

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken regarding the impact of a separate Scottish deposit return scheme on food and drink exports.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government will shortly publish a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment offering an analysis of the costs and benefits to business associated with implementation of a deposit return scheme.

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the amount of time that businesses will require for planning applications, building warrants and other regulatory and licensing issues regarding refitting or expanding business premises to prepare for the implementation of its planned deposit return sch…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has established an Implementation Advisory Group to provide industry advice on the implementation of the deposit return scheme. The Implementation Advisory Group has established a dedicated Sub-Group to consider the range of existing …

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the effect will be of the introduction of its planned deposit return scheme and reverse vending machines on the rateable values and business rates for retail premises.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The valuation of all non-domestic property is a matter for independent Scottish Assessors and it will be for them to consider the appropriate practice pertaining to the valuation of reverse vending machine sites in accordance with valuation law. The Scottish …

24 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when regulations will be laid for its planned deposit return scheme.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government will bring forward regulations to establish a deposit return scheme for single-use drinks containers in the coming months.

23 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22863 by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 May 2019, what funding it made available to the hospitality sector to support (a) the use of the tools outlined and (b) staff training programmes.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Food Standards Scotland (FSS) purchased the licence for MenuCal from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in March 2016, costing £132,947.25. Subsequently, FSS, in partnership with the Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee, piloted MenuCal with Scottis…

23 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22864 by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 May 2019, whether it will provide the information requested regarding what its position is on making it compulsory for food outlets to have dedicated staff members trained to oversee the preparation of food for custome…

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: It is the legal responsibility of food business operators to produce safe food, and that includes having effective procedures in place in relation to allergens. Food businesses are required by law to ensure that staff have the necessary knowledge to produce s…

13 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support local authorities to reduce turnover rates for social work staff dealing with children.

Answer · Maree Todd: The turnover of Children & Families Social Work staff is a matter for individual local authorities to address. The Scottish Government is delivering an overall funding package of £11.2 billion to local authorities in 2019-20 This is a real terms increase of …

13 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding ensuring that therapeutic support is provided in every case of a child being removed from their parents' care.

Answer · Maree Todd: Under the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 , local authorities are responsible for care planning, which includes assessing the immediate and long term needs of every looked after child. The legislation and supporting guidance also make clea…

29 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided to the hospitality sector in each of the last five years to support education and training regarding food allergies.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has developed guidance and tools to support food businesses, including caterers regarding food allergies, which is freely available on its website. These resources include:MenuCal, a free online tool that supports two areas of FS…

29 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on standardising food allergy protocols in restaurants and other food outlets, and developing a food allergy training programme for such businesses.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: FSS alongside the Food Standards Agency (FSA), developed practical guidance on the interpretation and practical application of the specific requirements laid out in the EU Regulation on allergen information. MenuCal is a free online tool that supports two ar…

29 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on making it compulsory for restaurants and other food outlets to train dedicated staff members to oversee the preparation of food for customers with allergies.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: As a matter of best practice, food business operators (FBOs) should consider using a system where staff direct allergen queries to a nominated person to ensure the consistency of allergen information to consumers. However, under the law there are overarching …

29 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent in each of the last five years on (a) routine and (b) emergency treatment on people with a food allergy.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: This is a matter for individual Health Boards. The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

29 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided in each of the last five years to schools to educate pupils regarding food allergies.

Answer · John Swinney: The health and wellbeing of children and young people within our schools is vitally important and a priority of this government. All school pupils health and wellbeing is underpinned by Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), Scotland’s curriculum for all children …

29 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each of the last five years have (a) received emergency treatment for and (b) died as a result of a food allergy.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Most emergency treatment for food allergies is provided in a primary care or emergency department setting and information on this specific activity is not centrally held. The number of patients who have been admitted to hospital as an emergency due to food a…

29 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what regular reviews the new food allergen alert service will carry out to help ensure that it is as accessible as possible.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Food Standards Scotland regularly review the alert service including the open rates of emails and texts received. In October 2019 (6 months following the official launch) a survey will be sent to subscribers to collect feedback about the service which will in…

29 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each of the last five years have been classified as having a severe food allergy.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: This information is not held centrally. Information on patients who have been admitted to hospital as an emergency due to food allergies and the number of deaths due to food allergies in the last five years is available in response to S5W-22860 on 8 May 2019.…

24 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with stakeholders and local authorities in the rest of the UK regarding the possibility of using landfill sites outside Scotland for the disposal of Scottish waste.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The duty to comply with the ban on biodegradable municipal waste landfill rests with those responsible for waste disposal. Our waste markets study, published on 23 April, assessed a range of processing and disposal capacity across the UK and elsewhere. We ar…