Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government recognises the threat posed by Xylellafastidiosa to Scotland’s ecosystem and a pest risk analysis (PRA) on Xylellafastidiosa was initiated following consideration of the pathogen by the UK Plant Health Risk Group. The PRA was published, following stakeholder consultation, in June 2014 and assesses the pathogen’s potential to cause economic, environmental and social impacts in the UK, including Scotland.

There is uncertainty as to the degree of damage that may result if the pathogen was to become established in the UK and the PRA is kept under review given the on-going threat.

The Scottish Plant Health Strategy, published in March 2016, sets out the Scottish Government’s approach to the protection of the health of plants in Scotland. Specific actions are listed under seven key headings including: pre-border, border and inland measures.

Import controls for Xylella fastidiosa and eradication measures in the event of an outbreak are set out in emergency EU legislation. These measures have been transposed into, and are implemented by, Scottish legislation and are kept under continuous review. As well as involvement in agreeing EU measures, the UK and Scotland have powers to introduce National measures. Additional measures in the UK context are under consideration.

The Scottish Government also works with the other parts of the UK Plant Health Service to raise awareness on Xylella.

A guide, Implications for the importers and users of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, was prepared for anyone involved in importing and professional use of plants and is also available on online.

Scottish Government hosted a Xylella workshop in September 2016, with an introductory awareness-raising session attended by relevant industry bodies, governmental and non-governmental organisations. The rest of the three-day workshop focussed on diagnostics training for the detection of Xylella fastidiosa.

A Plant Health Forum was held in February 2017 for the horticulture trade, which included discussions on Xylella.

The Scottish Government’s generic contingency plan for plant health sets out actions that would be taken in the event of an outbreak. A UK plan specific to Xylella is in the process of development.

The National Council of Rural Advisers has been established to provide advice and recommendations on future rural policy and support to help create a vibrant, sustainable and productive rural economy. Members have been appointed to the Council on the basis of their expertise and knowledge of the rural economy gained from living and working Scotland’s in rural communities.

My officials are supporting the independent National Council of Rural Advisers on the development of their workplan and stakeholder strategy over the summer. We would expect the Council to seek the views of a wide variety of stakeholders and representatives across rural, coastal and island communities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10086 on 19 July 2017. 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

The Scottish Government is absolutely clear that patient safety should not be affected by NHS Tayside’s position. The recently established Transformation Support Team will work with NHS Tayside on the current position and the likely level of brokerage needed at the end of the financial year. Repayment of brokerage has been suspended to avoid the prospect of an impact on the quality of care.

The Scottish Government remains committed to the policy of no compulsory redundancies. While NHS Tayside has to achieve a sustainable financial balance, this can be done by changing services to remove unwarranted variation and ensuring staff are in the right place at the right time.

The Transformation Support Team, which includes a financial expert, will provide advice to NHS Tayside to help the Board develop a plan that will return it to a sustainable financial position.

The Scottish Government is committed to the development of the TIMES model. A dedicated branch sits with in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to run and extend the model. The Scottish Government has also seconded a TIMES analyst to ClimateXchange at Edinburgh University to develop the model further and to support the adoption of the TIMES model by the wider academic community in Scotland. The Scottish Government also has ongoing engagement with the academic community, who review and advise on assumptions and data that support the development of the model.

The Scottish Government has in place a range of regulatory and voluntary activity to increase recycling rates, including of drinks containers, and to reduce all types of litter.

This activity includes supporting the UK-wide Courtauld Commitment with retailers and industry to introduce voluntary targets to increase recycling rates, improve design for recyclability and drive waste reduction. Information about the success of these measures can be found here:

http://www.wrap.org.uk/category/initiatives/courtauld-commitment.

The Scottish Government has also agreed a Household Recycling Charter with COSLA to move to a consistent system that will make it easier to recycle. Zero Waste Scotland is providing financial support to the 25 councils which have signed up to the Charter. It is voluntary, but the Scottish Government will consider what other measures might be required if sufficient progress is not made.

This voluntary approach on recycling is underpinned by regulatory action, such as the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 which require the separate collection of recyclable materials, the provision of recycling facilities to households and a ban on recyclable material being incinerated. This holistic approach to improving recycling has seen an improvement in household recycling to a current rate of 44.2%, compared to 40.1% in 2011.

Through Zero Waste Scotland we are also supporting voluntary measures to tackle littering, such as anti-littering tool kits and support for local networks. We have also taken a range of legislative steps with a focus on preventing littering behaviours. These include increasing the fines for both littering and flytipping, widening the range of public bodies which can issue fines, and working with local authorities on Litter Prevention Action Plans.