Within Scotland there are currently two authorised facilities that can use vehicle tyres as part of their feedstock for either energy or cement production. These are Levenseat Renewable Energy Limited by Forth, Lanarkshire and Tarmac Cement and Lime Limited at Dunbar, East Lothian. Use of waste tyres as cement kiln fuel is regulated under Industrial Emissions Directive which sets stringent conditions for co-incineration of waste.

Apart from these two operations, most of Scotland’s tyres are stored and transported elsewhere for treatment. The transport of waste tyres should only be undertaken by registered waste carriers, their movement should be described on suitably completed controlled waste transfer notes and their storage or treatment should only take place at premises that have been appropriately authorised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Every part of the supply chain from production through transport to final treatment should comply with the over-arching Duty of Care requirements ensuring that waste is managed safely.

Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy met with the Scottish Food Commission at their final meeting on 28 June 2018 and provided verbal feedback on their recommendations for the Good Food Nation Bill. The Commissioners were thanked for their work and deliberations and assured that full consideration would be given on how best to take forward their recommendations and to incorporate those proposals that were not already happening into the government's work to deliver our ambition to be a Good Food Nation.

While planning applications for new infrastructure are considered by Scottish Ministers under S37 of the Electricity Act, regulation of electricity infrastructure and electricity markets is a reserved policy area, In line with our Energy Strategy published in December 2017, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of developing a smart and flexible electricity grid to enable and support the decarbonisation of the whole energy system in taking forward our success in delivering growth in renewable energy to decarbonise our heat and transport sectors.

This whole system approach is at the heart of our Energy Strategy which highlights the vital role that smarter and more dynamic networks will play - supporting decarbonisation, empowering consumers and communities, and enabling the development of smarter, local models and approaches which we believe will be a vital component of our energy future.

Later this year, we will publish a Networks Vision Statement. This will set out in more detail the vital part that Scotland’s electricity and gas networks will play in the transition to a low carbon future.

The Forth Replacement Crossing Public Transport Strategy was developed in collaboration with bus operators, City of Edinburgh Council, Fife Council and SEStran. The strategy has helped deliver a number of interventions including bus hard shoulder running on sections of the M90 both north and south of the Forth as well a Halbeath Park and Ride. It is up to all members of the group to play their part and Transport Scotland intends to publish an update to the strategy to reflect the current status of each intervention. The evaluation of the performance of public transport measures will form part of the overall project evaluation for the Queensferry Crossing and this will help inform future investment considerations.

Further to the above, as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal the Scottish Government has committed £20 million for public transport infrastructure identified by the West Edinburgh Transport Appraisal work. City Region Deal partners will also contribute towards the improvements in West Edinburgh.

It is anticipated that the Local Rail Development Fund will reopen for a second round of applications in the Autumn, giving those previously refused in the first round the opportunity to receive feedback on their applications before considering if they wish to resubmit.

All unsuccessful applicants to the Local Rail Development Fund have been given written feedback on their applications, and have been offered the opportunity to meet with officials to discuss further.

We will consider all applications to the Local Rail Development Fund when it reopens for a second round, including any re-submissions from previously unsuccessful applicants.

Similar criteria will be applied to the second round of the applications as was applied to the first round.

Since introducing contingency measures in April 2018, officials have had several discussions with the Fife Health and Social Care Partnership and continue to monitor the situation. Sir Lewis Ritchie, author of Pulling together - transforming urgent care for the people of Scotland visited the Health and Social Care Partnership with officials from the Scottish Government in July to offer advice and support to the service.

There have been three meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee in Plenary since the EU referendum. Trade and Investment was on the agenda for the meeting on 30 January 2017, and trade has been discussed in each of these in the context of the future relationship with the EU. There have been seven meetings of the JMC for Europe however trade has not been an agenda item. There have been ten meetings of the JMC on EU Negotiations since the EU Referendum and trade has been discussed at each of them in the context of the future relationship with the EU. There have also been three meetings of the Ministerial Forum on EU Negotiations since it was established in May 2018, and the future economic relationship with the EU has been part of the discussion in each of those meetings.

Throughout our engagement with the UK Government we continue to highlight the real costs of Brexit to our economy and reiterate Scotland’s clear position that membership of the single market and the customs union would be the least damaging future relationship with the European Union.

Since the EU Referendum Scottish Ministers have met with the Secretary of State for International Trade, Minister of State for the Department of International Trade and Minister of State for Trade at the Department of International Trade four times.

Throughout our engagement with the UK Government we continue to highlight the real costs of Brexit to our economy and reiterate Scotland’s clear position that membership of the single market and the customs union would be the least damaging future relationship with the European Union.