Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S7W-02907

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many vehicles have been searched or seized using powers introduced under the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 in relation to suspected illegal waste activity, and how many of these cases have led to enforcement action since the introduction of the Act.

Question reference: S7W-02904

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is satisfied that the current definition and recording of waste crime adequately capture large-scale illegal waste operations, including sites where waste is deliberately stored or buried over an extended period, rather than being disposed of through fly-tipping.

Question reference: S7W-02906

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the total cost to taxpayers of investigating, securing and clearing illegal waste sites over the last five years, and what proportion of these costs has subsequently been recovered from those responsible.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally and does not hold estimates of the annual costs associated with waste crime which could be split across a number of public bodies and enforcement agencies. For information of this nature, you may wish to contact the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Police Scotland and local authorities, as they may be able to assist further.

Question reference: S7W-02902

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has identified any illegal waste sites in Scotland containing more than 20,000 tonnes of waste, comparable to the "super sites" recently identified in England, and, if so, how many such sites are known to SEPA.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has provided data on the number of illegal waste sites containing more than 20,000 tonnes in Scotland and this is set out in the following table. The data provided is based on the investigation progress as of 7September 2026.

SEPA seeks to disrupt identified illegal activity as quickly as possible using an interventions approach to minimise the occurrence of ‘super sites’ as far as possible.

Further Information is available from SEPA.

Illegal waste sites identified with an excess of 20,000 tonnes of waste^[1]evidenced

Site Location (SEPA Geographic Locations)	Number of known Sites
Argyll, Hebrides and South Highlands	n/a
Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders	n/a
Fife, Angus and Dundee	n/a
Falkirk, Alloa, Stirling and Perth	n/a
Grampian & Speyside	n/a
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Estuary	n/a
Lanarkshire	1ⁱ
North Highland and Northern Isles	n/a

^[1]Waste remains in-situ with investigation ongoing. Tonnage not yet determined as deposits are above and below ground.

It should be noted that where SEPA investigations are still active, the tonnage may not yet be fully determined or it may be part of the evidence. As such, any data released into the public domain could compromise the investigation, influence witness statements, affect future court proceedings or impact the privacy of those involved. The data provided is set out to protect detection and investigative processes.

Throughout an investigation the calculated tonnage on site may increase or decrease, e.g. it may be determined that the illegal deposit initially identified as being above ground extends below ground level upon further investigation, resulting in an increase in tonnage. The actual tonnage of waste on a site can only be fully known once the waste has been removed and Waste Transfer Notes / Special Waste Consignment Notes / Invoices provide the definitive weight.

Question reference: S7W-02905

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been recovered from individuals and organisations involved in illegal waste operations in each of the last five years.

SEPA has provided the following information on Fixed Monetary Penalties (FMPs) and Variable Monetary Penalties (VMPs) paid in relation to waste related activities under relevant legislation. The value of penalties paid in each of the last five financial years is set out in Table 3 in below.

Monetary Penalties paid 3[AD1]

	FY2021-22	FY2022-23	FY2023-24	FY2024-25	FY2025-26
FMPs Paid	£3,000	£4,959	£7,046	£3,540	£9,100
VMPs Paid	-	-	£8,010	-	£8,385
Total	£3,000	£4,959	£15,056	£3,540	£17,485

3 Any monies paid to SEPA in response to issued monetary penalties are transferred to the Scottish Consolidated Fund. SEPA do not receive Court Fine payments or Proceeds of Crime Confiscations.

In addition, where penalties remain outstanding, debt recovery action is initiated or repayment plans agreed. All outstanding unpaid Penalties have been referred to debt collection as of 7 September 2026.

The current cumulative value of outstanding penalties subject to recovery action or repayment arrangements is £66,003.67 for VMPs and £20,180 for FMPs.

These figures relate to the issuance of any FMP or VMP by SEPA for offences under Control of Pollution Act 1989, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Environment Act 1995, and Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018. These figures do not include fines imposed by the Courts or confiscations through Proceeds of Crime for criminal proceedings in relation to illegal waste offences.

Question reference: S7W-02462

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 14 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Liam McArthur (on behalf of the SPCB) on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body when the Victims and Witnesses Commissioner for Scotland will be appointed.

The Victims and Witnesses Commissioner for Scotland will be an independent SPCB supported officeholder. Recruitment will be undertaken by a cross-party selection panel. The successful candidate will be appointed by His Majesty, on the nomination of the Scottish Parliament.

This will be a high-profile public appointment. The selection panel will have an important role to play in ensuring that a high calibre candidate is appointed and we therefore need the interview process to be thorough and robust.

The Presiding Officer has appointed the cross-party panel and the role is expected to be advertised in September 2026. If a successful candidate is identified as part of this recruitment exercise it is hoped they will be appointed by the end of the year.

Question reference: S7W-02901

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many online advertisements or social media accounts offering illegal waste disposal services have been identified and removed in each of the last five years, and what assessment it and its agencies have made of the role of online platforms in facilitating waste crime.

Since 2023-24, as part of work to deliver the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has identified at least 300 online profiles advertising potentially illegal waste services and secured the closure of 81 profiles. Through this digital disruption activity, SEPA has also undertaken 136 direct interventions with unlicensed operators, issued 13 Information Notices and 7 Fixed Monetary Penalties, published 164 public deterrence posts, and received 11 waste carrier registration applications.

Comparable data is not held for earlier years, as this specific activity commenced in 2023-24. Annual information on the activity is included in the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy updates, available on the Scottish Government’s website.

SEPA’s assessment is that social media and online advertising platforms can provide unauthorised waste operators with a means of accessing customers. Its interventions have disrupted this activity, although there is evidence that some operators have moved into closed or private social media groups, making investigation more difficult. SEPA has also engaged with platforms, including Gumtree, to support the removal of adverts placed by unauthorised operators.

Question reference: S7O-00245

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consideration of changes to the Additional Dwelling Supplement to take account of exceptional circumstances and introduce an extended repayment period for owners of properties affected by cladding and fire safety issues, including the Bond Building in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S7W-02294

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 9 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role that a publicly owned national energy company could potentially play in the ownership, development or operation of ScotWind projects.

Question reference: S7W-02342

Asked by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 07 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 26 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of individuals being advised that they face a wait of 50 weeks for such treatment, whether it is satisfied with the current waiting times for audiology treatment in NHS Lothian, and what action it is taking to reduce waiting times and improve access to treatment.

The Scottish Government recognises that many people across Scotland are waiting too long for audiology appointments and referrals, which is not acceptable. We acknowledge the impact this can have on individuals and families, and we remain committed to improving audiology services across Scotland.

As set out in our 100 days prospectus, on 26 August I am meeting with NHS Heads of Service, community audiology providers and other key stakeholders to agree a plan for enhancing audiology services. This is part of a broader commitment to work closely with stakeholders to determine how we can address service pressures and move more audiology care into community settings. This will help to reduce pressures on hospital services and support the development of a more integrated, accessible, and community-based hearing service for the people of Scotland.

The Scottish Government continues to fund RNID for its Near You initiative which provides hearing checks and important wrap-around support in five NHS Board areas, and we have signalled our intent to go further with its roll-out in our Manifesto.