Chamber and committees

Yes. The bill has provisions to set targets, and secondary legislation could be brought forward. I want to get a sense of how quickly they could be developed. I understand that there are complexities and challenges in that but, for stakeholders who are listening, who want targets to be set and who are wondering why they are not in the bill, what certainty is there that the targets will be brought forward? Is there a timescale, or is it difficult to tell at this point?

I sort of understand the method that Mr Fraser has used today in order to provoke a debate on the matter but, given the context of the debate, I just want to ask him about his member’s bill. I am aware that a consultation on the bill took place last year, and that a final proposal was lodged in November 2022, but where is the bill sitting at the moment? Clearly, the Scottish Government has gone to the limits of its powers under primary legislation, and we have heard from the minister about the thinking behind setting fixed-penalty notices at £500, and about the wider legal framework with regard to penalties and enforcement. That discussion has been useful.

However, Mr Fraser has a very clear set of legislative proposals that have been consulted on; indeed, I believe that a level of £2,000 for fixed-penalty notices was part of that consultation. It would be good to know when that member’s bill will be presented to this committee, because, given that we are dealing with the Scottish Government’s Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill, the timescale for which has been well understood for a while now, it might have been opportune for Mr Fraser to have presented his bill at the very point at which we are considering whether primary legislation is adequate to deal with fly-tipping and a whole range of other issues.

I therefore ask Mr Fraser when he winds up this debate, such as it is, to reflect a bit on his own member’s bill proposal. Having done a number of such bills myself, I am well aware of the process and the constraints, perhaps, on parliamentary support. However, Mr Fraser has a clear proposal. When are we going to see it?

That is good. Thanks.

I have another question about calls to ban particular products. You will be aware of the strong campaign to ban single-use vapes. What are your views on that as a Government? Do you see particular cases for banning individual products? Can that be done through the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill or in a different way in relation to the things that the Government is consulting on? What is in your sights?

I am aware of the time, so I will be brief.

The Government’s policy is to remain aligned with the European Union. How do the bill and the waste strategy—and the provisions that have come out of it—keep us in alignment with the EU, and the single-use plastics directive in particular?

The EU is taking a strategic approach to driving out waste and increasing circularity. Is that something that will come through the bill? In the past, the approach has been to look at individual items, such as plastic bags and single-use cups. Will the bill create a more overarching approach to waste?

My recollection of the original DRS super-affirmative instrument was that it took the committee quite a long time to get in all the stakeholders, consider the evidence and produce a report. Is that fast enough for the regulatory measures in this instance? Is there another way of doing it? Can you front load stakeholder engagement in a different way?

I cannot hear what people are saying.

I am struggling to see how that will cost companies more money when it is about saving money. Are there good examples of big businesses saving money by delivering more efficient supply chains and managing their unsold goods more effectively, rather than shipping them round the world, which is something that I had not heard of?

Will I get an answer to that question?