- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 6 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) physician associate and (b) other medical associate profession students began their studies in the 2023-24 academic year.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 6 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to support the establishment of (a) physician associate and (b) other medical associate profession roles in NHS Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government is supportive of a gradual and carefully managed expansion of physician associate (PA) and anaesthesia associate (AA) roles, underpinned by robust evidence of the benefit that can be derived from these roles in specific settings and contexts.
In order to achieve this, we have established a national Programme Board to advise on key aspects of the roles and NHS Scotland’s approach to their deployment. This work builds on action already undertaken to introduce statutory regulation of the roles which we consider is vital for patient safety. GMC regulation has, for the first time, introduced UK-wide standards for education, training and professional practice with meaningful consequences when these are not met.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) contractors and (b) sub-contractors received funding from the £3.7 million it has provided for the Offshore Skills Energy Passport.
Answer
OPITO was the sole recipient of Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund support for developing the Offshore Energy Skills Passport over the period 2022 to 2024. Our records show that five sub-contractors were engaged by OPITO in supporting the Passport project over this time.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the impact of the usage of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and similar thermoplastics in the food and beverage industry on (a) the natural environment, (b) biodiversity and (c) agriculture.
Answer
We know single use items made from PET and similar thermoplastics have a damaging effect on our natural environment and biodiversity from litter to harming wildlife. The Scottish Government’s policy is to reduce the consumption of single use materials regardless of composition, rather than to target specific material types or to displace one single use material with another. This is in line with the waste hierarchy, which prioritises reduction and reuse over all other interventions. That is why we have banned single use plastic items such as cutlery and straws and are introducing a deposit return scheme to reduce the number of single use drinks containers being littered.
Our commitment to the circular economy is clear from the passing of the Circular Economy Act last year and our publication of the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map last year.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the impact of the usage of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and similar thermoplastics in the food and beverage industry on (a) malignant, (b) respiratory and (c) cardiovascular health.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not researched the impact of PET on malignant, respiratory or cardiovascular health. The Scottish Government’s policy is to reduce the consumption of single use materials. This is in line with the waste hierarchy, which prioritises reduction and reuse over all other interventions.
As a Regulated product, food contact materials need to be authorised before they can be used and placed on the market.
Regulation 178/2002 aims to protect human health and consumer’s interest in relation to food. It applies to all stages of production, processing and distribution of food and feed with some exceptions. Food businesses must comply with food and feed safety law.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce the usage of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and similar thermoplastics in the food and beverage industry.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s policy is to reduce the consumption of single use materials regardless of composition, rather than to target specific material types or to displace one single use material with another. This is in line with the waste hierarchy, which prioritises reduction and reuse over all other interventions.
Our commitment to the circular economy is clear from the passing of the Circular Economy Act last year and our publication of the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map last year.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) plans it has and (b) funding is available to support (i) academic and (ii) industry research into the effects of using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and similar thermoplastics.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s policy is to reduce the consumption of single use materials regardless of composition, rather than to target specific material types or to displace one single use material with another. This is in line with the waste hierarchy, which prioritises reduction and reuse over all other interventions.
Our commitment to the circular economy is clear from the passing of the Circular Economy Act last year and our publication of the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map last year.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the impact of the usage of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and similar thermoplastics in the food and beverage industry on the (a) inshore, (b) coastal and (c) offshore deepwater marine environment.
Answer
We know the majority of marine litter is plastic and we know that it has a negative impact on the health of our environment and biodiversity. That is why the Scottish Government’s policy is to reduce the consumption of single use materials. This is in line with the waste hierarchy, which prioritises reduction and reuse over all other interventions.
To help tackle the most problematic types of marine litter the Scottish Government published an updated Marine Litter Strategy in 2022 with an action plan, this will drive forward our work from 2022 to 2027 and co-ordinates the efforts of our stakeholders and partners.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the potential impact of the use of alternative, sustainable materials, instead of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and similar thermoplastics, in the food and beverage industry.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s policy is to reduce the consumption of single use materials regardless of composition, rather than to target specific material types or to displace one single use material with another. This is in line with the waste hierarchy, which prioritises reduction and reuse over all other interventions.
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, specifically in relation to its net zero obligations, whether it has considered the impact of the usage of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and similar thermoplastics in the food and beverage industry.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s policy is to reduce the consumption of single use materials regardless of composition, rather than to target specific material types or to displace one single use material with another. This is in line with the waste hierarchy, which prioritises reduction and reuse over all other interventions.