Chamber and committees

Yes. If we could go to David McCulloch, that would be great.

I want to ask you about your experience of the most problematic waste streams. We have heard some evidence about furniture that has POPs in it. I am sure that there are lots of other waste streams where there are particular challenges with volume or handling of materials. Could you outline what those are? How do you see the bill addressing some of those issues? I am thinking of single-use charging or even the banning of certain products. Let us start with Glasgow City Council.

I want to ask you about the charter for household recycling, which has been operating on a voluntary basis. What have been the challenges around implementing it? If we are to see a shift to more of a statutory code, what does the co-development around that look like from the point of view of local authorities?

I ask Gail Macgregor to answer those questions, because she mentioned earlier that sort of co-design and co-production with the minister.

Yes, I think so. It cut out a little bit at the end. I suppose the question is: based on the engagement you have had already with the development of DRS and other schemes, is that the model of engagement you would expect going forward? If there is more secondary legislation that is coming down the tracks, would you expect that early engagement and that joint work with Zero Waste Scotland and through COSLA? Despite some of the complexities around DRS and the changes, has that generally worked? Is that an appropriate way for you to be engaged within this and does that deliver enough certainty, I suppose?

Yes.

I will wrap up a couple of questions together. The last panel mentioned the recycling improvement fund. I wanted to get your perspectives on that, how you have used that, if you have, in recent years, and whether you see a continuation of that fund as being important to deliver the aspects that are covered by the bill.

I have a broader point about the bill. It is a framework bill and it has provisions to bring in secondary legislation. Can you reflect on whether you have engaged with secondary legislation in the past, such as that on the deposit return scheme and other bits of secondary legislation that are in this waste management space? What is the most effective way for you to be able to input a view ahead of decisions being made or while secondary legislation is being scrutinised in Parliament?

It was about the recycling improvement fund, whether you have used that and how significant you see that as a way of delivering some of the provisions and investments that are needed that will come out of the bill.

On your comment about what the committee would like to see more of, cabinet secretary, I do welcome the improvements that have been made to the report this year, but I note the useful table in annex C, which gives the title of the relevant European law, the subject issue at stake and the Scottish Government’s current alignment consideration. Under the final heading, there are a number of statements, with issues “under active consideration”, proposals “under development” and so on. There is some indication of the direction of travel, but the table does not really say exactly where we are in the policy process.

Perhaps I can take, as an example, the nature restoration law that is coming at European level and which will establish “legally binding ... targets”. The table says that the proposal is “under development” in Scotland, but we know that it will probably be wrapped into the environment bill. To what extent can we get more clarity on that sort of thing?

Part of the context of my question is the issue of common frameworks, which have arisen with regard to the deposit return scheme, and there is also a transparency issue. I feel, therefore, that there might be a bit more granularity to be had in the conversation across the UK. For example, are there any implications arising from the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020?

I wonder whether, beyond a general statement of “Yes, we broadly agree with this, and we are working on something”, more could be put under that heading to show the Government’s workings with regard to where we are at the moment with alignment and what a committee—whether this one or another—should be looking out for.

I am interested in your campaign for a cultural touring agreement. Alice Black just spoke about the TCA review in 2026 and what discussions there can be ahead of that. Are there other sectors that link in with touring companies and musicians and that are facing similar issues, so that there is potential for you to work together? I am thinking about the screen industry as part of the cultural ecology. Are workers in the screen and other cultural sectors coming up against similar problems? How might you build a case from there?

Okay—it is noted.

I have a final question. The committee recently went to Ireland, where we heard about a lot of the cultural work that the Irish state does to connect with its diaspora. Are artists and workers who have a family connection to Ireland applying for Irish passports? Is that a workaround to enable greater access to Europe?