Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-15418

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 13 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme, whether it has made an application for an exemption under the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, and, if not, what plans it has to submit any such application.

The Scottish Government has been following the process for excluding the deposit return scheme regulations from the Internal Market Act 2020 and we expect a decision from the UK Government as soon as possible.

I recently met with ministers and senior officials from each UK administration at the inter-ministerial group on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to again ask for urgent clarity from the UK Government on this matter, and by the end of March at the latest.

Question reference: S6W-15417

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 9 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on any plans that Circularity Scotland has to publish details of the remuneration of its chair, chief executive officer, and executive board members.

Question reference: S6W-14936

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 8 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement by the UK Government on 20 January 2023 that its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will not include glass, and the reported concerns of SMEs regarding the inclusion of glass in Scotland’s DRS, whether it will review its plans to include glass as part of the DRS.

Question reference: S6W-14934

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 8 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-08012 by Lorna Slater on 12 May 2022, and in light of the announcement by the UK Government on 20 January 2023 that its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will not include glass, whether it will provide an answer to the question that was asked.

The UK government announcement related to the proposed scheme in England. Wales has also confirmed their scheme will include glass.

The Scottish Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) business case suggests that including glass will save over 1.2 megatonnes CO2 equivalent over 25 years, and will significantly increase the quantity and quality of glass recyclate. We will continue to work closely with the UK and devolved governments to maximise interoperability of the schemes when they go live, and hope that the UK government will, over time, follow the other UK nations and reconsider its decision to exclude glass.

Question reference: S6W-14935

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 8 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement by the UK Government on 20 January 2023 that its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will not include glass, whether it will reappraise the financial assumptions for its DRS regarding any additional costs relating to compliance with two different regimes operating in the UK for (a) producers, including (i) labelling, (ii) production and (iii) distribution costs and (b) wholesalers, including the storage of goods in different stock keeping units, and, following of any such reappraisal, whether it will publish a supplementary Financial Memorandum setting out its analysis of any additional costs.

The financial assumptions contained with the Final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) published in December 2021 show the projected cost to businesses in terms of compliance with the Scottish Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). The UK Government is responsible for providing details to industry regarding the potential financial impact of its DRS. We will continue to work closely with the UK and devolved governments to maximise interoperability of the schemes when they go live.

Question reference: S6W-14933

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-07097 by Lorna Slater on 23 March 2022, and in light of the announcement by the UK Government on 20 January 2023 regarding the operation of its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), whether it will provide an answer to the question that was asked.

The Scottish Parliament approved the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations in 2020. The Regulations are wholly within devolved competence.

The Scottish Government has been following the agreed process to seek the exclusion of the DRS regulations from the Internal Market Act. This has been the subject of discussion with the UK Government beginning in 2021 when we sought a broad exclusion under the Resources and Waste common framework when an exclusion was agreed covering Scotland’s single use plastic regulations. We will continue to press the UK Government for a decision as soon as possible to give businesses the clarity they need.

Question reference: S6T-01225

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that small shops in Scotland fear they cannot survive because of the costs and impacts of the Deposit Return Scheme, what its position is on Circularity Scotland’s confirmation on 1 March that retailers who use Reverse Vending Machines would have to wait one month for payment for returned bottles, rather than the previously expected seven days.

Question reference: S6F-01796

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 06 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 February 2023

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that 600 drinks producers are concerned about the impact on their businesses, and the survival of them, in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6F-01660

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will set a clear ambition in its planned Energy Strategy for delivery of 4 to 6 GW of solar power by 2030.

Question reference: S6W-13315

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2022
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 December 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the programme for the additional A9 road safety measures, as referred to by the Minister for Transport in the debate on Essential Road Improvements on 2 November 2022.

This year’s safety performance of the A9 has been a concern for everyone and our thoughts remain with those affected by these tragic accidents.

I can advise today that this Government is taking forward a package of safety measures, valued at £5M, to help address the trends identified recently.

As well as the three safety schemes which are already scheduled for delivery, an additional £600,000 of works and campaigns will also be delivered by April, focussed on the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

This will include enhanced road markings with acoustic properties, illuminated road studs plus signage and improvements to highlight single carriageways and the transitions at dualled sections. Variable message signs will also be deployed along this part of the route.

For 2023-24 and 2024-25, the scope and extent of these works will be expanded between Perth and Inverness, delivering significant and important investment to improve roads safety.

I will also be working with the car hire sector and key local and regional partners to examine how tourists and foreign drivers can be better educated on Scotland’s roads. This will aid our wider campaign work on “Drive on the Left” and will also highlight the necessity for taking regular breaks, tackling driver fatigue.

Having met with MSPs from across the chamber following the debate on A9 road safety last month, I will convene a meeting with members, Transport Scotland, Bear Scotland and Police Scotland in the New Year to talk to these vital improvements and address any questions members will have. The next A9 Safety Group will convene in February 2023.