Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-17486

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 15 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on paying compensation to any businesses affected by the most recent delay to the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-17492

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 12 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the expected value is of any advance payments to Circularity Scotland under section 8.5 of the Producer Agreement from registered drinks producers that are currently liable to make such payments between 16 August 2023 and 1 March 2024.

As Circularity Scotland is a private company, support arrangements they have with their members is a matter for them and it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to intervene in such commercial arrangements between private companies. We are grateful to all businesses for the investment they have made in preparing for the launch of the deposit return scheme and this investment will be important for the success of the scheme when it launches on 1 March.

Question reference: S6W-17493

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 12 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it reportedly gave no prior notice to Circularity Scotland of the decision, which was announced to the Parliament on 18 April 2023, to delay the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme until 1 March 2024.

Question reference: S6W-17489

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects Circularity Scotland to produce a short-form version of the Deposit Return Scheme Producer Agreement.

Question reference: S6W-17389

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to registered drinks producers that are liable for advance payments under section 8.5 of the Deposit Return Scheme Producer Agreement.

As Circularity Scotland is a private company, support arrangements they have with their members is a matter for them and it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to intervene in such commercial arrangements between private companies. Only the very largest producers (those making more than 10 million units per year) are required to underwrite costs. We are grateful to all businesses for the investment they have made in preparing for the launch of the deposit return scheme and this investment will be important for the success of the scheme when it launches on 1 March.

Question reference: S6W-17388

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 10 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether registered drinks producers are currently liable to make advance payments to Circularity Scotland under section 8.5 of the Producer Agreement, in light of the Deposit Return Scheme launch being postponed until 1 March 2024.

Circularity Scotland advise that only the very largest producers (those making more than 10 million units per year) are required to underwrite costs. 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 such commercial arrangements between private companies.

Question reference: S6W-16913

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to address littering.

Last year the Scottish Government consulted on proposals for a National Litter and Flytipping Strategy. The consultation included proposals to encourage behaviour change, improve infrastructure and services and strengthen enforcement, including a review of the current enforcement model. A final strategy will be published this year.

In addition, we are supporting local authorities to prepare for the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme next year, which will help to reduce the amount of waste, including litter, that local authorities have to handle, reducing the £36 million of public money spent annually on associated litter clean-up costs.

We will also be taking forward action to strengthen enforcement through the planned Circular Economy Bill this year.

Question reference: S6W-17315

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when a public awareness campaign will be launched to inform consumers of the forthcoming Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-17387

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission's Report on the use of handheld remote-controlled training devices (e-collars) in dog training.

Question reference: S6W-16927

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 9 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) Circularity Scotland will receive a share of the packaging recovery note value of any packaging waste collected by Biffa under the proposed Deposit Return Scheme.

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