Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-20958

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 3 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of the safety concerns regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Somerville: Officials within the Scottish Government were aware of RAAC as a safety topic in recent years, through general engagement with the construction sector and specific organisations such as the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS, now CROSS-UK) who issued their first safety alert on RAAC in May 2019.

The topic has since achieved broader prominence, supported by the creation of a RAAC study group by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) in June 2021 and publication of IStructE guidance on RAAC assessment in March 2022 and in April 2023.

Question reference: S6W-21672

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government which minister will have responsibility for its Green Industrial Strategy.

Question reference: S6W-21471

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there are that fall under the remit of the Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy portfolio.

Question reference: S6W-21535

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how its Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill interacts with extended producer responsibility for packaging.

The Scottish Government is committed to transitioning to a zero waste and circular economy and is taking steps to do so within the legislative options available. The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill and extended producer responsibility for packaging are distinct reforms which together will contribute to support that transition. The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill will establish a further legislative framework to support that transition, and will significantly increase reuse and recycling rates, and modernise and improve waste and recycling services.

Using existing powers under the Environment Act 2021, we are taking a four-nations approach to implement the extended producer responsibility scheme for packaging, ensuring that producers are responsible for the full net disposal costs of their household packaging and incentivising more environmentally-friendly product design. The impacts of these packaging reforms will be taken into account and inform a co-design process with households and operators for future household waste recycling and reuse service standards, and a future statutory code of practice made using powers in the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill. This will modernise recycling in Scotland, putting people at the heart of how services are designed and delivered, and support local authorities to meet future local statutory targets from 2030.

Question reference: S6W-21231

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-20525 by Graeme Dey on 28 August 2023, on what date it received the review, and when it expects to publish the review alongside the recommendations.

Question reference: S6W-21292

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government on banning single-use vapes.

On 13 September 2023, at the initiation of the Scottish Government, Ministers and senior officials from across the UK met to discuss single use vapes. They discussed the available evidence, recognised shared challenges, and committed to work together on a range of options to tackle the impacts, up to and including a ban.

The Scottish Government has engaged on the issue of single use vapes from an early stage with governments across the UK, and indicated the potential future requirement to raise relevant issues for consideration within the Resources and Waste Common Framework.

Question reference: S6W-21324

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding a potential ban on disposable vapes and any requirements that may apply under the Internal Market Act 2020.

On 13 September 2023, at the initiation of the Scottish Government, Ministers and senior officials from across the UK met to discuss single use vapes. They discussed the available evidence, recognised shared challenges, and committed to work together on a range of options to tackle the impacts, up to and including a ban.

The Scottish Government has engaged on the issue of single use vapes from an early stage with governments across the UK, acknowledging the potential impact of the Internal Market Act, and indicated the potential future requirement to raise relevant issues related to the Internal Market Act for consideration within the Resources and Waste Common Framework.

Question reference: S6W-21291

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is, regarding any implications for policy in Scotland, to reports that the UK Government could set out plans to ban disposable vapes as early as the week commencing 18 September 2023.

The Scottish Government’s 2023-24 Programme for Government, published on 5 September 2023, outlined our commitment to take action to reduce vaping among non-smokers and young people and to tackle the environmental impact of single use vapes, including consulting on a proposal to ban their sale and other appropriate measures.

On 13 September 2023, at the initiation of the Scottish Government, Ministers and senior officials from across the UK met to discuss single use vapes. They discussed the available evidence, recognised shared challenges, and committed to work together on a range of options to tackle the impacts, up to and including a ban.

Our approach will be subject to further engagement, policy development and consultation and developed in the spirit of the new deals recently agreed with local government and with business. The Scottish Government will work constructively with the UK nations, as well as retailers, local government, young people and other stakeholders to develop and deliver solutions.

Question reference: S6W-21290

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding what the UK Government’s position would be regarding any legislation agreed to by the Scottish Parliament that would ban disposable vapes.

On 13 September 2023, at the initiation of the Scottish Government, Ministers and senior officials from across the UK met to discuss single use vapes. They discussed the available evidence, recognised shared challenges, and committed to work together on a range of options to tackle the impacts, up to and including a ban.

The Scottish Government has engaged on the issue of single use vapes from an early stage with governments across the UK, and indicated the potential future requirement to raise relevant issues for consideration within the Resources and Waste Common Framework.

Question reference: S6O-02603

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding funding to address the housing shortage resulting from population growth.

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