Chamber and committees

In Scotland, it is already illegal to send waste collected separately for recycling to incineration or landfill. However, we need to make sure that how we treat residual waste, which cannot be reused or recycled, aligns with our emissions reduction targets. That is why we have appointed an independent chair to review the role incineration plays in the waste hierarchy.

We also have a range of measures in train to reduce the amount of waste produced and increase the proportion of waste recycled across Scotland. These include laying Regulations before Parliament that ban some of the most problematic single use plastic products; a £70 million Recycling Improvement Fund for local authorities; and implementation of Scotland’s ambitious deposit return scheme.

Fair Start Scotland the national employability support service is available to support those who face the greatest challenges in finding fair and sustainable work. Key workers offer personalised, one to one support, tailored to individual circumstances. Pre-employment support can last up to 18 months depending on the specific needs of the individual and up to 12 months in work support is also available to ensure participants remain supported during employment. This will include referrals to specialist support for employment where this will benefit the individual.

Historic Environment Scotland has already played a lead role in looking at the options for development at Mavisbank House, through its partnership with the Landmark Trust in the ultimately unsuccessful funding application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Historic Environment Scotland is continuing discussions with interested parties about the future of the property and I have asked the body to write directly to the member about the details.

The Scottish Government reconvened the Burial Regulations Working Group (first established in 2016) on 9 December 2021 to continue work to develop burial regulations, as provided for in the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016.

At that meeting the Group reassessed the remit and membership of the Group, progress to date and the approach to take going forward.

The membership of the Group includes both public and private burial authorities, third sector organisations, special interest organisations and funeral sector trade organisations, ensuring views from across the sector are represented.

The Group agreed that the membership be expanded to the wider funeral sector, and invitations to join the Group are being sent to the identified parties. It would not be appropriate to share members’ details until the membership is agreed.

The minutes of the previous meeting will be published on the Scottish Government website once they have been cleared by the Group.

The Local Delivery Plan Standard for IVF Waiting Times is for ‘90 per cent of eligible patients to commence IVF treatment within 12 months of referral. The 90% standard continues to be met since it was first measured in March 2015.

Waiting time statistics on the waits experienced by patients from referral to screening appointment for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment can be found on the PHS website at the following link: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ivf-waiting-times-in-scotland

This is the latest IVF Waiting Times publication and data from January 2016 to present can be downloaded under Data Files, data from July 2014 can be found https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Waiting-Times/Publications/2018-08-28/2018-08-28-IVF-Waiting-Times.xlsx . Collection of waiting times data on IVF screening and waiting times only began in 2014.

As the statistics produced are predominately based on aggregate data and presented in 13 week time bands an average (mean) waiting time cannot be calculated.

The Breast Screening Programme Board (BSPB), which oversees breast screening in Scotland, has agreed that the option for women aged 71 and over to self-refer into the breast screening programme will resume once all screening centres are able to offer those aged 53-70 their breast screening appointments within 39 months of their previous screening. Progress towards this is being closely monitored, and the timing for restarting the option for women aged 71 and over to self-refer into the programme is regularly reviewed.

The breast screening programme offers routine screening to women aged between 50 and 70 years old. It remains important for women of all ages to be symptom aware, and to report any concerns about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer to their GP straight away, so that they can be promptly investigated. Their GP will be able to refer women of any age for further investigation and treatment if required. Further information regarding the possible symptoms of breast cancer can be found at https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/cancer/cancer-types-in-adults/breast-cancer-female.

National Records of Scotland produce an annual National Statistics publication each year on drug-related deaths in Scotland. The most recent report provides information on drug-related deaths details in 2020 and earlier years. Section 7 of the report provides an overview of drug-related deaths by substances implicated. Tables SUB1 and SUB2 provide information on the substances which were reported for drug-related deaths in Scotland between 2000 and 2020. Tables HBX and CX provide figures for individual drugs, for NHS Boards and councils. Annex E and Table NPS1 provide information relating to New Psychoactive Substances.

The full report and supplementary tables can be accessed from the following link: Drug-related Deaths in Scotland in 2020 | National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk)

Hospital admissions

Public Health Scotland information on hospital activity relating to illicit drug use in Scotland are not specific enough to identify the substances specified (heroin and methadone are the only opioids with specific ICD-10 diagnostic codes).

This technical guide is an example of Historic Environment Scotland’s important and pioneering work in climate change research. The guide is positive in addressing the common assumption that older buildings are harder to treat, and enables the owners of traditional and historic properties in Scotland to make informed choices about the options available to improve energy efficiency.

Since 2015-16, around 180 listed Scottish public bodies have been required to report annually on compliance with their statutory climate change duties. To assess progress on emissions reduction, the Scottish Government funds the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) Secretariat to produce an annual analysis of the submitted reports. Reported emissions from the public sector continue to decrease, with Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions down 28.5% since mandatory reporting began in 2015-16.

The Scottish Government will bring forward a prospectus for an independent Scotland in good time before the independence referendum to allow people to make an informed choice on their future.