Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-32136 on 18 December 2024. 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.

I am pleased to confirm the final Circular Economy and Waste Route Map has been published today. Link: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836017974

The Route Map sets out an ambitious plan to deliver the priority actions to 2030 that will help us progress towards a circular economy and ensure we maximise the positive impact of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 for communities across Scotland.

It is the product of extensive collaboration and engagement with the public, private and third sectors through two consultations since 2022, with consistently high levels of support for the proposals.

I want to thank all who have contributed to the Route Map’s development, including our delivery partners in businesses, local government, SEPA and Zero Waste Scotland. I look forward to working with them all to deliver the actions set out. The Route Map demonstrates the strength of support for Scotland’s transition to a circular economy and the importance of working together to reach our net zero and economic growth goals.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) are currently reviewing its operational delivery model for SORT. The findings of the review will be discussed with the Scottish Government to ensure any changes in operational delivery meet with the expectations set out in the service level agreement, and that SAS is able to provide a safe and sustainable response to potentially hazardous and significant incidents.

The National Mission annual report finance sections aim to provide greater transparency of National Mission funding, including rehabilitation services. The reports for financial years 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 are available at:

The Scottish Government is working to ensure children and young people learn about a variety of substances including alcohol, medicines, drugs, tobacco and solvents as part of Curriculum for Excellence. Our aim is by educating children and young people about substance use and the impact it can have on their life and health, this will prevent them making unhealthy choices. Education alone will not turn the tide of substance use but it is an important strand within a broad range of measures across the community, designed to tackle this issue.

The Scottish Government remains committed to progressing work on protecting children and young people from exposure to alcohol advertising, including commissioning Public Health Scotland to carry out a review of the evidence for restrictions on alcohol marketing. The findings from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey (2024) is encouraging as it showed that levels of drunkenness in school-aged children (15 year-olds) in Scotland have steadily declined and are now at their lowest in 32 years.

The appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer is a matter for the Ferguson Marine Board. The Board are in the process of recruiting a permanent CEO, and the interim Chief Executive has agreed to continue in his role until Easter while the process continues.

The information requested is not held centrally. Public Health Scotland conducts HIV surveillance and publishes an annual statistical report, however this does not include data on people living with HIV in Scotland who have a diagnosed mental health condition.

The MV Glen Sannox is expected to commence service in mid-January 2025.

Scotland will take part in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) at two grade levels - P5 and S2 - and we have confirmed our participation with the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, which administers the study. Procurement of a provider to deliver the assessments in Scotland is currently underway. The field trial is planned for 2026, with the main study to follow in 2027.

Table 1 shows the non-domestic rates and thresholds in Scotland since 1999-2000. The rates for 2025-2026 were proposed in the Scottish Budget 2025-26.

Table 1: Non-domestic rates since 1999-2000