Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-21471

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there are that fall under the remit of the Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy portfolio.

Question reference: S6W-21535

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill interacts with extended producer responsibility for packaging.

The Scottish Government is committed to transitioning to a zero waste and circular economy and is taking steps to do so within the legislative options available. The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill and extended producer responsibility for packaging are distinct reforms which together will contribute to support that transition. The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill will establish a further legislative framework to support that transition, and will significantly increase reuse and recycling rates, and modernise and improve waste and recycling services.

Using existing powers under the Environment Act 2021, we are taking a four-nations approach to implement the extended producer responsibility scheme for packaging, ensuring that producers are responsible for the full net disposal costs of their household packaging and incentivising more environmentally-friendly product design. The impacts of these packaging reforms will be taken into account and inform a co-design process with households and operators for future household waste recycling and reuse service standards, and a future statutory code of practice made using powers in the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill. This will modernise recycling in Scotland, putting people at the heart of how services are designed and delivered, and support local authorities to meet future local statutory targets from 2030.

Question reference: S6W-21290

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding what the UK Government’s position would be regarding any legislation agreed to by the Scottish Parliament that would ban disposable vapes.

On 13 September 2023, at the initiation of the Scottish Government, Ministers and senior officials from across the UK met to discuss single use vapes. They discussed the available evidence, recognised shared challenges, and committed to work together on a range of options to tackle the impacts, up to and including a ban.

The Scottish Government has engaged on the issue of single use vapes from an early stage with governments across the UK, and indicated the potential future requirement to raise relevant issues for consideration within the Resources and Waste Common Framework.

Question reference: S6W-21291

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is, regarding any implications for policy in Scotland, to reports that the UK Government could set out plans to ban disposable vapes as early as the week commencing 18 September 2023.

The Scottish Government’s 2023-24 Programme for Government, published on 5 September 2023, outlined our commitment to take action to reduce vaping among non-smokers and young people and to tackle the environmental impact of single use vapes, including consulting on a proposal to ban their sale and other appropriate measures.

On 13 September 2023, at the initiation of the Scottish Government, Ministers and senior officials from across the UK met to discuss single use vapes. They discussed the available evidence, recognised shared challenges, and committed to work together on a range of options to tackle the impacts, up to and including a ban.

Our approach will be subject to further engagement, policy development and consultation and developed in the spirit of the new deals recently agreed with local government and with business. The Scottish Government will work constructively with the UK nations, as well as retailers, local government, young people and other stakeholders to develop and deliver solutions.

Question reference: S6W-21292

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government on banning single-use vapes.

On 13 September 2023, at the initiation of the Scottish Government, Ministers and senior officials from across the UK met to discuss single use vapes. They discussed the available evidence, recognised shared challenges, and committed to work together on a range of options to tackle the impacts, up to and including a ban.

The Scottish Government has engaged on the issue of single use vapes from an early stage with governments across the UK, and indicated the potential future requirement to raise relevant issues for consideration within the Resources and Waste Common Framework.

Question reference: S6W-21324

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding a potential ban on disposable vapes and any requirements that may apply under the Internal Market Act 2020.

On 13 September 2023, at the initiation of the Scottish Government, Ministers and senior officials from across the UK met to discuss single use vapes. They discussed the available evidence, recognised shared challenges, and committed to work together on a range of options to tackle the impacts, up to and including a ban.

The Scottish Government has engaged on the issue of single use vapes from an early stage with governments across the UK, acknowledging the potential impact of the Internal Market Act, and indicated the potential future requirement to raise relevant issues related to the Internal Market Act for consideration within the Resources and Waste Common Framework.

Question reference: S6W-21231

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20525 by Graeme Dey on 28 August 2023, on what date it received the review, and when it expects to publish the review alongside the recommendations.

Question reference: S6O-02603

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding funding to address the housing shortage resulting from population growth.

Question reference: S6W-21469

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there are that fall under the remit of the Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands portfolio.

There are currently a number of Scottish Government working groups that fall under the remit of Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands (RALRI). The following non-exhaustive list includes currently active groups that would fall under RALRI portfolio and are managed by the Scottish Government.

Peatland Science and Technical Advisory Group (Peatland STAG)

• Soils Working Group

• Wild Salmon Strategy Implementation Plan Advisory Group

• Scottish Forestry Customer Reps Group (CRG)

• Scottish Forestry CRG Tree on Farms sub group

• Scottish Forestry CRG Technical sub group

• Scottish Forestry National Stakeholder Group

• Scottish Forestry Phytopthora ramorum review working group

• The Land Reform Bill Oversight Group

• Academic Advisory Panel to Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board

• Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime in Scotland

• Scottish Government National Goose Forum

• Small Producers Pilot Fund Steering Group

• Scottish Agricultural Wages Board

• Rural Delivery Plan: Ministerial Working Group

• SRDP 2014 - 2020 Rural Development Operational Committee

• National Islands Plan Delivery Group

• Islands Strategic Group

• Farming opportunities for new entrants (FONE)

• Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board

• Agriculture and Rural Development Stakeholder Group

• Crofting Bill Group

• Bovine EID Industry stakeholder working group

• Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) Advisory Group

• Bee Health Improvement Partnership (BHIP)

• Varroa Working Group

• Strategic Management Board (SMB)

• Pesticide Stakeholder Group (PSG)

• Horticultural Round Table

• Environment and Economy Leaders' Group (EELG)

Question reference: S6W-20922

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when the next bidding rounds for the Just Transition Fund will be announced.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17566 on 17 May 2023. Due to the annual budget cycle, Scottish Government cannot yet confirm dates or capital budgets for future bidding rounds. However, we continue to engage with regional stakeholders on planning and priorities for future funding calls. The timing of potential future bidding rounds will be considered in the New Year.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Chamber and committees