Chamber and committees

Given the on-going uncertainty over timing and nature of the UK’s exit from the EU, the timescale for a policy announcement is not clear.

Work is underway to establish the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission and it will have its inaugural meeting after it is established. The membership and programme of work to be taken forward by the Committee in its first year will be determined once the Chair is appointed.

Zero Waste Scotland’s £18m Circular Economy Investment Fund has a focus on supporting innovative approaches to accelerate circular solutions in Scotland.

By collecting PET plastic in large quantities, separately to other materials, the deposit return scheme will not only increase the amount of plastic being recycled but also create a valuable resource that will be attractive to reprocessors. We are working to encourage reprocessors to invest in Scotland to take advantage of this material.

This information is published by SEPA as part of its annual “Waste From All Sources” publication. The relevant data can be accessed on SEPA’s website at:

https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/413268/2017_waste_data_tables.xlsx

I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-23886 on 9 July 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

This information is not held centrally.

I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-23883 on 9 July 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Advice from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is that the risk may be significant. The development of domestic reprocessing and recycling capacity through projects funded by Zero Waste Scotland’s £18m Circular Economy Investment Fund will help to mitigate the risk of further contraction in overseas waste markets.

Reform of the current producer responsibility regime for packaging and our proposals on a Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland could provide greater incentives for investment in reprocessing within Scotland.

SEPA holds some limited general data on the export of plastic, which can be accessed on SEPA’s website at:

https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/413268/2017_waste_data_tables.xlsx  

However, SEPA does not hold data on tonnages of repatriated waste, or on tonnages of Scottish plastic waste recycled in other specific parts of the world.

Following the parliamentary debate last May, the Scottish Government made a commitment to carry out a review of the consequence management planning, response and recovery aspects related to road transportation of Defence Nuclear Material in Scotland, led jointly by the Police and Fire Inspectorates. It would look at the close working arrangements with local authorities and the other responders in Scotland’s regional resilience partnerships to ensure that response arrangements are indeed up to date and current.

During the course of the review, there has been strong cross sector engagement and collaboration from a number of key agencies. I would like to personally thank the Police and Fire Inspectorates and colleagues from the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives in Scotland, who have worked tirelessly together to conduct the review within the agreed parameters and timescale, supported by Scottish Government Officials. The report is a testament to their commitment and dedication.

I would also like to personally thank the authors of the ‘Unready Scotland’ report and those members of the Scottish Parliament who raised and participated in the debate.

The report is published on the Scottish Government website at www.gov.scot/publications/road-transportation-of-defence-nuclear-material-in-scotland-preparedness-review

I believe the recommendations and suggestions that are included in the report will reassure Parliament and our communities that our responder agencies are well prepared and the findings of this report will further enhance preparedness, so that Scotland is indeed ready.