Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22738 on 23 April 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 .

An analysis has been conducted of the impact of including glass in the deposit return scheme compared to current recycling systems, which consist of a mixture of bring sites and kerbside collections. This work has been undertaken as part of extensive evidence gathering and analysis to inform the scheme design.

Further to my response to question S5W-14917, I can confirm that Scottish Natural Heritage has not undertaken further work on the impact of beavers on beech trees and the red squirrel population.

Scotland’s Forestry Strategy places a high priority on understanding and mitigating the threats to Scotland’s forests and woodlands.

The physical impacts of the disease on ash populations are generally not yet as advanced in Scotland as in England and Wales. However, since its first detection in 2012, Ash dieback disease has become wide spread in Scotland, including in areas where there was some initial hope that the disease could be contained through statutory actions requiring the removal of diseased trees. Scottish Ministers therefore took a strategic decision in 2015, supported by the Scottish Tree Health Advisory Group, to focus on adaptive actions such as seed banking, assessments of susceptibility, and management advice to secure the long-term future of ash trees in Scotland.

As some ash trees appear to be able to tolerate or resist infection, our priority for securing the long-term future of Scotland’s ash trees is in the identification of the genetic factors in resistant samples, and using these to breed new generations of tolerant ash trees for the future. This work is part of a UK and Europe wide approach.

The commitment to establish a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers was set out through the 2017-18 Programme for Government and a public consultation seeking views on the design of that scheme concluded in September 2018. That consultation highlighted widespread agreement that a well-run and appropriately targeted DRS could provide opportunities in relation to improving the environment, changing people’s attitudes to recycling and littering, and building the circular economy. It also provided detailed feedback on key elements of any scheme design. Ministers will take account of the views expressed as they work to finalise the design of a DRS for Scotland in the coming months.

Forest Research undertakes research on the impacts of forestry co-product harvesting, such as brash removal and has published guidance to aid site selection for suitable operations. This guidance can be found at the following website: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/biomass-energy-resources/fuel/woodfuel-production-and-supply/woodfuel-production/producing-biomass-fuels-from-forestry/ .

The Scottish Government relies on data produced by The Forest Research Agency, which is responsible for collecting definitive data for the GB forestry sector. This data does not currently include data on forestry co-product harvesting.

Realising the full economic potential of this sector requires collaboration, knowledge transfer and partnerships across the public and private sectors. The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre was established with funding from Scottish Government (through Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council) and has a specific remit to deliver knowledge and expertise between industry and academia. It currently has an active portfolio of eighteen industry-led projects. Through its SMART Scotland, Regional Selective Assistance and Research & Development grants, Scottish Enterprise has provided support to seven projects in the last three years, with a total value of £2.2m.

Realising the full economic potential of this sector requires collaboration, knowledge transfer and partnerships across the public and private sectors. The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre was established with funding from Scottish Government (through Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council) and has a specific remit to deliver knowledge and expertise between industry and academia. It currently has an active portfolio of eighteen industry-led projects.

The National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology, first published in 2013 and refreshed in 2019, notes the progress that has been made and the variety of funding streams that contribute to the success of the sector. This includes the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, funded by Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council, investment of over £50m for innovation and £25m of private investment. In addition, there are a number of partner organisations including Zero Waste Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, and the Forestry Commission who provide expertise and knowledge transfer.

The recently updated National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology sets out 6 resource streams which were identified as holding the greatest potential to further develop Scotland’s bio-based economy, These are: Whisky co-products, Municipal solid wastes and food processing by-products, Agricultural biomass, Forestry biomass, Marine biomass and Carbon dioxide. Further investigations of these streams are taking place.