Chamber and committees

For the national targets, we are looking at using the affirmative procedure, not the pre-laying procedure, as Ailsa Heine has pointed out.

I am keen to get the route map to you as quickly as we can. Do we have an updated timescale?

What good would look like to me is what we need to do to meet our net zero targets. We know how much waste we need to reduce not only to meet our waste target but, in the bigger picture, to help the country to reach net zero. The specific answer to your question is that good would look like what the sector needed to do on our pathway to net zero.

Absolutely. I add that, in revisiting what we collect throughout Scotland, we have the opportunity to collect other high-value products such as textiles, which could then provide revenue streams for councils.

I am not aware of goods being shipped around the world, and the intention is to prevent the disposal of goods, not their re-export. Do any of the officials want to come in on that?

Of course. I am familiar with the work of the Remakery, as I was a board member for a brief time but resigned that post when I took up my ministerial post. Organisations such as that do much good work, not only in getting goods into the hands of people who could really use them during the cost of living crisis, but in ensuring that nothing is wasted and that materials are put to good use. Part of the route map looks at how we can support such businesses. I am keen for you all to see that draft route map, which will be with you as soon as we can get it to you.

Thank you for taking the time to consider the draft Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023. The regulations would amend Scottish legislation in the field of plant health. They introduce provision to extend the duration of an exemption from the requirement to pay fees for phytosanitary certificates for forestry exports from Scotland to Northern Ireland, in certain circumstances, under the UK Government’s movement assistance scheme. That will support Scottish exporters after the transition period and will ensure that Scottish exporters retain access to the same support as their English and Welsh counterparts.

As Northern Ireland remains part of the European Union plant health system, exports from Scotland to Northern Ireland are required to fulfil EU entry requirements, including phytosanitary certificates. The movement assistance scheme, which is funded by the UK Government, temporarily removes the requirement for exporters to pay fees associated with obtaining a phytosanitary certificate for the export of plants and plant products to Northern Ireland. The movement assistance scheme has been extended to June 2025.

The draft regulations also include a minor amendment to the wording of schedule 1 of the Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (England and Scotland) Regulations 2015 in order to provide greater clarity on the scope of activities that may be carried out in relation to audit inspections by competent authorities of professional operators authorised to issue GB plant passports.

I consider the regulations necessary and appropriate. My officials and I would be happy to take questions from the committee.

The bill is a framework bill, and it allows us to start the journey down the route of imposing charges on single-use plastics, for example. I cannot predict all the items that the Parliament and the Government may wish to impose charges on to get industry to report on the waste and surpluses that it produces. We are looking to start with food waste but, down the line, the Parliament may choose to look at other sectors and industries. The bill is the start of a journey, and each provision provides for taking specific policy actions in line with councils.

I can give you an example of a provision where that would be the case, which is on the reporting of waste and surplus goods. The provision involves putting a burden or obligation on businesses to report on their waste and surpluses. The arrangements for that would need to be developed with businesses. Such reporting is already undertaken voluntarily by many businesses, including Tesco, Hovis, Unilever and IKEA, so there are already industry examples of good practice whereby large businesses report on their waste and surpluses. Tesco has called for all businesses in its industry to do the same.

By engaging with businesses that already undertake that work and with other businesses in that space, we can develop what we think is industry best practice to support them. That is part of the process of introducing that particular provision on reporting on waste. However, I would, of course, be happy to dive into any of the other provisions that you are interested in.

There is great disparity in how our local authorities implement recycling. Some of our local authorities are excellent and have very high recycling rates, whereas some have lower recycling rates, for a variety of reasons.

I think that you are referring largely to the code of practice element of the bill, the purpose of which is to help people to have a standardised experience. One of the wonderful things about, for example, Scandinavian countries is that they have very standardised recycling, which helps the consumer to understand and do the right thing. In Scandinavian countries, whether people are at home, at work or at the train station, they have the same colour bins for paper, for plastics and for food waste. That standardisation helps with, for example, communication and helps to get the recycling level up.

As part of the co-design process, we might—with councils—develop that standard across the country, so that the user experiences it in a better and easier way. At the moment, some councils collect glass, and some do not. Some councils have different colours and symbols. Standardising that across the country, if that is what the co-design process develops, would make councils’ lives easier. It could also open up opportunities for the bulk purchasing of bins or other savings that might be useful to councils. The whole intention of the co-design process is to make life easier for councils and for them to have input. We all recognise that different communities have different geographic and housing stock challenges. We need to take all of that into account during the co-design process, which is why the councils need to be involved at every step.