Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-15098

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 17 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details, including copies of any correspondence, regarding any concerns and objections received in connection with the potential impact on competition in the collection services market arising from the Deposit Return Scheme.

In 2018, the Scottish Government undertook a public consultation to explore options for establishing a deposit return scheme in Scotland, to which 16 recycling and waste management organisations submitted representations. An analysis of these consultation responses is available on the Scottish Government website here . The Scottish Government receives and responds to ongoing correspondence from stakeholders regarding DRS and is happy to consider any request for further information, in line with its obligations under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Question reference: S6W-15093

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 17 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether any subsidy control matters have been considered in respect of the appointment of Circularity Scotland and its supply chain.

As set out in Section 14 and Section 15 of The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020, submitted applications with regards to the appointment of scheme administrators are reviewed and decisions made by Scottish Ministers. The Regulations do not provide for public funding or financial support for appointed scheme administrators. This is entirely appropriate for a scheme that has industry responsibility at its heart. As such, subsidy control matters are not relevant in the appointment of a scheme administrator.

Question reference: S6W-15094

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the services that Circularity Scotland will provide (a) directly and (b) indirectly through its supply chain to the Scottish Government and other contracting authorities, such as SEPA.

Circularity Scotland (CSL), as a private non-profit organisation and scheme administrator for DRS, represents and provides services to its members including Scotland’s largest drinks producers, importers, wholesalers and retailers. This is entirely appropriate for a scheme that has industry responsibility at its heart. The Scottish Government will register as a return point operator (RPO) with CSL and will be handled no differently than any other registered RPO.

Question reference: S6W-15100

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to ensuring market competition in relation to waste collection services for the Deposit Return Scheme, and whether it has raised any concerns with Circularity Scotland regarding the potential impact on competition arising from the appointment of a single waste collection provider.

Circularity Scotland (CSL) are a private non-profit organisation and are therefore not subject to public procurement requirements. An extensive tender process was carried out by Circularity Scotland over a period of around 12 months before appointing a waste collection provider. Decisions regarding their contracts are for them – this is entirely appropriate for a scheme that has industry responsibility at its heart.

Question reference: S6W-15095

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether Circularity Scotland is subject to the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, and whether it is required to openly tender above threshold procurement opportunities.

Question reference: S6W-15097

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of the procurement procedure used by Circularity Scotland in appointing Biffa as the official waste collection and logistics service provider, and what information it holds on how this contract opportunity was advertised.

Circularity Scotland (CSL) are a private non-profit organisation and are therefore not subject to public procurement requirements. Decisions regarding their contracts are for them – this is entirely appropriate for a scheme that has industry responsibility at its heart. CSL carried out an extensive tender process over a period of around 12 months before appointing Biffa to be the scheme’s official logistics service provider.

Question reference: S6W-15103

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are planned to (a) remove tree tubes and (b) manage the trees used in the tree planting schemes along the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

(a) To date approximately 5-10% of tree tubes/guards have been removed where plants have established quickly due to local conditions. For the majority of the site, tree establishment has been slower, which is common for exposed roadside locations. It is anticipated that there will be an increase in the phased removal of the remaining guards over the next 2 years as the planting continues to establish and flourish.

(b) There are circa 1.5 million new trees planted alongside the AWPR. Since 2018 and 2019, when the various sections of AWPR were opened, the specialist landscape contractors have had teams of full-time personnel engaged year-round inspecting and maintaining the site. The landscape maintenance includes regular grass cutting, weed control and pruning to encourage growth.

Question reference: S6W-15099

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details, including a list of attendees, of any discussions that it was involved in, or facilitated between producers and retailers, to (a) approve Circularity Scotland as the Deposit Return Scheme administrator and (b) confer any exclusive rights on Circularity Scotland in relation to the collection of scheme articles.

Circularity Scotland submitted an application to Scottish Ministers for approval to become a scheme administrator. Drinks producers, wholesalers and retailers across Scotland collaborated to create Circularity Scotland and support its application to become a scheme administrator. The Scottish Government did not engage in discussions with producers or retailers with regards to Circularity Scotland’s application. While Circularity Scotland is the only approved scheme administrator, it does not have exclusive rights in relation to the collection of scheme articles. There is no limit on the number of scheme administrators that can operate within the scheme.

Question reference: S6O-02046

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how the education system encourages a better understanding of circular economy principles and skills.

Question reference: S6W-15363

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 13 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the public funds used by (a) it and (b) its agencies, in each of the last 12 months, to support (i) Circularity Scotland and (ii) Deposit Return Scheme-related activities.

Previous requests under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 have provided information on the costs associated with the creation of the Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland and are published on the Scottish Government website. As of 18 May 2022 it cost the Scottish Government £182,722 to set up DRS including costs associated with preparing legislation, consulting, evaluation, and independent reviews and assurance. The Scottish Government is open to further requests for information under both FOISA (2002) and EIR (2004).

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