Chamber and committees

Enforcement of section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). We are working with SEPA to consider what guidance can be provided to retailers and other obligated businesses to help ensure compliance.

The tonnage of glass waste from households is included in the household waste statistics, and glass waste from all sources, including household waste, is reported in the statistics on waste from all sources. While it is too early to determine the full impact that the COVID-19 crisis has had on recycling rates for glass, we are extremely grateful to those who continue to work hard in difficult circumstances to keep essential waste service going in communities across Scotland.

The most recent waste from all sources statistics are available from: https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/waste/waste-data/waste-data-reporting/waste-data-for-scotland/ .

The most recent household waste statistics are available from:

https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/waste/waste-data/waste-data-reporting/household-waste-data/ .

It is too early to determine the full impact that the COVID-19 crisis has had on household recycling rates. We are however, extremely grateful to those who have worked hard in difficult circumstances to keep essential waste service going in communities across Scotland.

The most recent statistics are from 2018 and are available from: https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/waste/waste-data/waste-data-reporting/household-waste-data/ .

The Scottish Government-led Waste and Resources Sector Forum, which includes local authority representatives, monitors the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on the delivery of waste services across Scotland. The Forum has indicated that levels of litter have increased as lockdown has eased, raising significant concerns about its visible impact on our open spaces, including parks, countryside and beaches.

In response, we have partnered with Zero Waste Scotland and Keep Scotland Beautiful to develop a national anti-littering campaign for digital and social media which launched on 15 July. This builds on an existing national waste management marketing campaign and web resource that sets out how the public can manage waste responsibility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, businesses handling returned scheme packaging will have an obligation to take all reasonable steps to ensure it is managed in a manner that promotes high-quality recycling. The associated code of practice makes clear that crushing mixed-colour glass should be avoided where possible.

Enforcement of this obligation is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). We are working with SEPA to consider what guidance can be provided to retailers and other obligated businesses to help ensure compliance.

Our community theatres and performing arts venues and organisations, their staff and the talented freelancers and volunteers who work with them are an essential part of the fabric of Scotland’s culture and communities and we are determined that they will survive and be able to thrive again.

On 3 July, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture announced the new Scottish Government £10 million Performing Arts Venues Fund which will support theatres, who were among the first to close and will be among the last to reopen. The Fund aims to remove the threat of insolvency prior to the end of March 2021; allow for specialist/core staff to return from furlough or avoid redundancy to work on future sustainability plans; and increase the opportunities for commissioning and employment of freelance artists and creative practitioners. Details of how the fund will operate will be published by Creative Scotland and funding made available as soon as practicable.

A number of community theatres have benefitted from the Third Sector Resilience Fund to date including Aberdeen Performing Arts, Alhambra Theatre and Eden Court. As of 10 July 2020 our total investment in the third sector has helped save organisations that have a collective annual turnover of c£0.5bn with over 14,000 jobs saved. Grants totalling £21.68 million have been made to over 1293 organisations, including over £2.3 million to over 118 organisations within the creative industries. In addition seven other theatres have benefitted from the Wellbeing Fund including Pitlcochry Festival Theatre, Inverclyde Youth Theatre (Koyos) and Greenock Arts Guild Ltd. We also recognise that there will be a need for further support for the third sector and we are considering this as part of our approach to Recovery. This will include the consideration of the impact of different phases of lockdown. Details will be announced in due course.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30635 on 26 July 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

We know that it has been very difficult for our faith communities to be unable to come together in their places of worship, including churches. This was of course necessary due to the pandemic and I appreciate the understanding and patience our faith communities have shown in abiding by restrictions, which have been vital to ensure safety and stop the spread of the virus.

Working with our faith communities and guided in particular by evolving scientific and health advice on transmission risks, the First Minister announced on 9 July that, with appropriate mitigations in place, places of worship could reopen from 15 July.

The Scottish Government has remained engaged with our faith communities and will continue to work closely with them as we develop guidance to support places of worship to re-open safely, with physical distancing and hygiene safeguards.

Amusement arcades will not be able to open on 15 July along with other parts of the tourism and hospitality industry. The reopening of amusement arcades will be considered with other indoor entertainment venues for later in Phase 3. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of businesses reopening, however public health is paramount. We will move to reopen Scotland’s amusement arcades as soon as it is safe to do so.

No public funds were involved in the construction of Maxim Business Park.

The Scottish Government and our agencies have no stake in the facility's ownership.