Chamber and committees

That is very helpful.

I agree with my colleagues that the evidence session has been very informative. Could you clarify something? We have touched on this a little. We understand that food production lies at the heart of the balance sheet, but can you expand on the other areas that it covers?

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My voting app was not allowing me to vote, but I would have voted yes.

Simon, do you have anything to add?

Thank you for that. It has been very interesting to hear about the different difficulties and impacts based on rural and urban settings. That has answered all my questions, so I will hand back to the convener.

I thank the witnesses for their really useful comments so far. I want to touch on issues to do with waste and the circular economy, which have not been touched on much so far. Given that, in 2019, 3 per cent of Scotland’s total emissions came from waste, strategies to deal with that will be a key issue going forward.

A few of the witnesses have mentioned collaboration with local people. Although action is not solely dependent on that, there is a need for the public to buy into, understand and support new practices and change attitudes to their waste, recycling and the circular economy. What are the main challenges and opportunities in your areas to reducing emissions from waste management and meeting the 2025 waste and recycling targets? In what circumstances do you consider that the energy-from-waste infrastructure will be compatible with your net zero target?

I will also ask my second question, and you can take them in turn, if that is all right. What is being pursued in your area to support the development of a circular economy, and what key partners are involved in that? Are innovative local economic models being developed and supported in your area, around, for example, reducing waste, reuse, repair and recycling? I will come to Councillor Aitken, Councillor Laing and then Councillor McVey.

I thank the witnesses for attending—[Inaudible.]

Thanks, convener. I am very sorry about the technical issues that I have had this morning.

The answers to most of my questions have been covered in the responses to Monica Lennon. However, could the witnesses elaborate on the efforts that are being pursued in their areas to support the development of a circular economy, and on the key partners that are involved? Are any innovative local economic models being developed in your areas around, for example, reducing waste, reusing and recycling? Simon, you have already touched on that in one of your responses, so I will put that question first to Margaret Davidson. If you have anything to add, that would be great.

I declare that I am a councillor on Renfrewshire Council, just in case any of the matters that we discuss coincide with that.

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for students impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. (S6O-00059)