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Since April 2013 Zero Waste Scotland has made £766,800 available to Community Resources Network Scotland to cover core activities such as the running of regional forums, themed events, policy consultations, representation and research. Further funding, of £283,500 has also been supplied for specific projects over the same period, such as the early development of the Revolve initiative and the establishment of the Reuse Consortium.

Zero Waste Scotland has received 284 Stage 1 applications. 111 have been approved to Stage 2 Application stage, 26 are still being assessed or clarified and 147 have been rejected. In addition, 69 Stage 2 ‘Full Applications’ have been received. 18 have been approved/contracted, 21 are being assessed or clarified and 30 have been rejected.

The metrics that are monitored to measure the impact of the Circular Economy Investment Fund (CEIF) include:

• Greenhouse gas reduction;
• low-carbon investment levered into Scotland by Private and institutional investors;
• and employment in low-carbon sector in Scotland

Zero Waste Scotland has a robust monitoring procedure for all projects funded by the CEIF. For each grant awarded, quarterly monitoring returns are required for three years following implementation, and these will be supported by site visits or other impact assessment where required. This monitoring procedure allows the capture of metrics beyond the targets listed here, including qualitative benefits, which can be bespoke to the specific nature of the project.

Zero Waste Scotland’s Circular Economy Operations within its Resource Efficient Circular Economy Programme 2014-20, which includes the Circular Economy Investment Fund and supporting activities, has targets for the following:

• Annual identified carbon savings (tCO2 eq) by 2018 = 25,922t
• Cumulative lifetime identified carbon savings by 2018 = 775,440t
• Low-carbon investment levered into Scotland by Private and institutional investors, target of £11.6m.
• Employment in low-carbon sector in Scotland, target of 343 jobs

The spending profile for the Circular Economy Investment Fund (CEIF) is in line with the agreed Zero Waste Scotland budget for 2018-2019. The spend profile for the CEIF is forecast to be £4.58 this year.

Zero Waste Scotland promotes the Circular Economy Investment Fund through a range of channels. These include:

• marketing initiatives targeting specific opportunities in partnership with industry associations and membership groups;
• a team of sector managers who work with SMEs and intermediaries to raise awareness of the Fund;
• and signposting with public and private sector partners such as Business Gateway, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, venture funds and Angel networks/syndicates.

This activity has resulted in 284 stage 1 applications to date.

The Scottish Food Waste Reduction Target aims to reduce food waste by 33% by 2025. We are working on an action plan which will provide greater detail on measures to be taken in Scotland which we expect to publish by the end of the year. This will include further information on the contribution we expect from the different measures being pursued.

This information is not held centrally.

The spend profile for the CEIF is forecast to be £4.58m this year. Spend against profile will be monitored on a regular basis.

We are working with Walking Football Scotland to encourage more women to take up the sport. Most of the walking football sessions across Scotland welcome men and women, and there are also many female-only sessions. The Walking Football Festival being held in June at Glasgow Green will feature women and men competitors.

Walking Football Scotland has female representation at board level and Scotland’s only football World Cup winner Rose Reilly is an ambassador – which I hope will encourage more women to participate.