Chamber and committees

On 30 May 2022 we published our consultation on Delivering Scotland’s circular economy – a Route Map to 2025 and beyond. The Route Map sets out system-wide interventions to help deliver Scotland’s transition to a zero waste and circular economy, significantly increase reuse and recycling rates, and modernise and improve waste and recycling services. The consultation is available here: Delivering Scotland’s circular economy: A Route Map to 2025 and beyond - Scottish Government - Citizen Space .

The accompanying technical annex summarises available evidence on factors driving the current national recycling performance, and the rationale for proposed Route Map actions. Key factors include infrastructure modernisation, specific geographical challenges contributing to local performance rate variation, technical or economic options for reuse or recycling of products, and the incentives and guidance in place to support recycling participation across our economy and society.

The recent independent review of the role of incineration found that while there may be temporary under-capacity of residual waste treatment in Scotland in 2025, when the ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste comes into force, there is a risk of long-term overcapacity beginning from 2026 or 2027, if all or most of the incineration capacity in the pipeline is built.

The review noted that export is one of the short-term options for the treatment of residual waste in order to bridge the expected capacity gap. However, we will continue to work closely with local authorities and commercial operators to support those that do not currently have solutions to treat their residual waste ahead of the forthcoming ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste in 2025, taking account of the recommendations of the independent review and ongoing assessment of residual waste requirements and available capacity.

Scottish Government does not hold information on flytipping incidents in each local authority. This detailed information can be obtained by contacting local authorities directly.

There is no single dataset of all flytipping incidents in Scotland, as there is no legal requirement for duty bodies or landowners to report on flytipping externally.

The recent National Litter and Flytipping Strategy consultation covered proposals to improve data collection and reporting mechanisms, including mandatory reporting of flytipping incidents for statutory bodies. We are analysing responses in advance of publishing a final National Litter and Flytipping Strategy later this year.

This information has been placed in the Parliament’s reference centre (BIB number 63508 ).

The recent independent review of the role of incineration found that while there may be a temporary under-capacity of residual waste treatment in Scotland in 2025, when the ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste comes into force, there is a risk of long-term overcapacity beginning from 2026 or 2027, if all or most of the incineration capacity in the pipeline is built.

We are working closely with local authorities to support those that do not currently have solutions to the forthcoming ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste in 2025. The support includes facilitating collaborative procurement and providing technical, procurement and legal support for local authorities.

The Independent review of the Mental Health Act for those with learning disability or autism (Rome Review) recommended that those with learning disability and autism should no longer be included within the definition of ‘mental disorder’ under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 but not that they should be removed entirely from the protections under that Act.

To fully explore the impact of this recommendation in the context of wider mental health law, the ongoing Scottish Mental Health Law Review, chaired by Lord John Scott QC, has absorbed consideration of this issue into its wider work. The Review’s final report and recommendations are due to be completed in September 2022.

The Scottish Government has committed to introducing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill. This Bill will ensure that the rights of autistic people, people with learning disabilities and people with neurodevelopmental differences are respected and protected. To help make sure the new legislation is championed when it is implemented we intend to create a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodiversity Commissioner through the new law.

The ongoing Scottish Mental Health Law Review is reviewing our mental health and incapacity legislation in light of developments in international human rights, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and will consider where improvements could be made. The Review’s final report and recommendations are due to be completed in September 2022.

The Scottish Mental Health Law Review, chaired by Lord John Scott QC, is ongoing. The principal aim of the Review is to improve the rights and protections of those who may be subject to the existing provisions of mental health, incapacity or adult support and protection legislation as a consequence of having a mental disorder. The Review’s final report and recommendations are due to be completed in September 2022.

The Scottish Government regularly reviews its workforce numbers to ensure affordability, and that the organisation is delivering for the people of Scotland as efficiently and effectively as possible. This ongoing monitoring of our workforce makes sure that as much money as possible is directed onto the delivery of the policy priorities of the Government and improving the lives of the people of Scotland.

We are committed to contributing to achieving the broad aim set out in the Resource Spending Review, to return the total size of the devolved public sector workforce to around pre-COVID-19 levels by 2026-27.

Our absolute priority is achieving this through effective vacancy and recruitment management, working in partnership with the Council of Scottish Government Unions.

Whilst we consider the longer term workforce requirements, and the impact of the Resource Spending Review on our workforce size and cost for the future, we have enhanced recruitment controls in place which focus any recruitment on the most critical delivery priorities, building capability and making the organisation more diverse.

Island Communities Impact Assessments (ICIAs) and all other relevant impact assessments will be undertaken, as appropriate, as and when individual policies and programmes set out in the Shared Policy programme come forward for implementation.