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Over £23 million has been awarded to 15 local authorities, to date, through the Recycling Improvement Fund. This marks one of the biggest investments in recycling in a generation.

These initial investments have the potential to reduce CO2e emissions by 29,746 tonnes each year.

Carbon savings information for unsuccessful projects is not available, primarily due to insufficient evidence available to produce estimates.

Where a local authority has been unsuccessful in gaining funding, they receive feedback from Zero Waste Scotland. Zero Waste Scotland also offer support to explore funding opportunities and support the development of proposals.

Zero Waste Scotland will publish the next update of the Carbon Metric for waste in March 2023.

The publication of the Carbon Metric in March 2023 will be the last time the tool, in its current format, will be used.

From 2023 a report on the carbon impacts of Scotland’s waste from a whole-life carbon perspective will be produced using the newly developed Scottish Waste Environmental Footprint Tool (SWEFT). The SWEFT tool performs the same functions as the carbon metric but has the additional benefit of measuring a wider range of indicators beyond carbon.

The Scottish Carbon Metric measures the whole-life carbon impacts of Scotland’s waste, and is a vital tool in our work to address the climate emergency. The most recent data shows that in 2018 the carbon impacts of Scotland’s waste fell to the lowest on record, 30% below 2011 baseline levels.

Most recently, the metric has provided key evidence to inform the development of proposals set out in our Waste and Circular Economy Route Map consultation. The Carbon Metric, and the newly developed Scottish Waste Environmental Footprint Tool (SWEFT), will continue to play a key role to help ensure that the Scottish waste and resources sector plays its full role in tackling the global climate emergency.

The Carbon Metric reports also contribute to the evidence base for Outcome 1 (Responsible Consumption) from Zero Waste Scotland's Corporate Plan, highlighting the environmental impact of over-consumption, and allowing their activities to be targeted for maximum impact. Additionally, insights from the most recent Carbon Metric report contributed to the evidence base for developing existing Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland activities, such as supporting the Circular Textiles Fund.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

Statistics in relation to Psychoactive Substances (PS) detections are only available from 2018 onwards.

The following table provides the total number of detections for (PS) per year across all establishments from 2018 – present day.

*Includes detections for PS only and does not include other types of substances detected by the Rapiscan Itemiser machines.

**Prior to 2020, only 3 establishments had Rapiscan Itemiser machines in place. From 2020, this equipment was introduced to all establishments which accounts for the significant increase from previous years.

Since 2016, the Scottish Government has worked with 63 individuals who are public figures on 104 occasions as part of communication campaigns delivered via the central Scottish Government Marketing Team. Of those 63 individuals, 4 have been part of a Scottish Government television advert. The remaining 59 have been involved through social media advertising, digital or public relations activity only. The Scottish Government does not hold details of communications activity undertaken by agencies.

The public figures who have worked with the Scottish Government on communications campaigns since 2016 are: Amber Zoe (Presenter); Arabella Weir (Actress); Barbara Dickson (Singer); Boogie (DJ); Bruce Fumey (Comedian); Callum Gallacher (DJ); Carol Smillie (TV Presenter); Cassi Gillespie (Radio Presenter); Cat Cubie (Presenter); Cat Harvey (Presenter); Charlie Reid (Musician); Chris Brookmyre (Author); Clare Grogan (Singer); Craig Reid (Musician); Des Clarke (Comedian); Dougray Scott (Actor); Dr Punam Krishan (TV Doctor); Edith Bowman (DJ/Presenter); Edward Reid (Performer); Elaine C Smith (Actress); Eunice Olumide (Model); Ewen Cameron (Presenter); Fred MacCauley (Comedian); Gail Porter (Presenter); Gary Maclean (Chef); Gavin Mitchell (Actor); Gordon Clark (Musician); Grant Stott (Presenter); Hayley Scanlan (Fashion Designer); Heather MacRae (Golfer); Huw Jones (Rugby Player); Iain Stirling (Comedian); Jackie MacNamara (Footballer); Jai McDowall (Singer); Jane McCarry (Actor); Janey Godley (Comedian); Jennifer Reoch (Presenter); Keryn Matthew (Miss Scotland); Kieron Achara (Basketball Player); Laura Boyd (Reporter); Laura Fraser (Actress); Lawrence Chaney (Drag Queen); Leah MacRae (Actress); Lee Craigie (Cyclist); Les McKeown (Musician); Lorraine Kelly (Presenter); Lorraine McIntosh (Musician); Mac Twins (DJ/Authors); Mark Cox (Comedian); Mollie Hughes (Explorer); Moyo Akande (Actress); Nicola Roy (Actress); Peter Sawkins (Baker); Raman Bhardwaj (Reporter); Ricky Ross (Musician); River City Cast (TV); Ruaridh Jackson (Rugby Player); Sanjeev Kohli (Comedian); Scott Hastings (Rugby Player); Shaheeda Sinckler (Singer); Simon Donnelly (Footballer); Sir Alex Ferguson (Football Manager); Stuart Hogg (Rugby Player).

On 44 occasions there was no payment to the public figure. For the balance, the fee paid to each individual is part of a commercial negotiation between the appointed agency to produce the campaign, within an overall agreed production budget, and the relevant individual. Therefore, this is either information not held by the Scottish Government or it cannot be disclosed as this would release confidential financial information relating to the services offered by each individual. However, historical Freedom of Information requests relating to the “Stop The Spike” campaign featuring Janey Godley has resulted in that fee being published following agreement it could be released. The fee in that instance was £10,000.

The update of the Material Flow Accounts will inform the development of policy for the circular economy bill.

SWEFT is currently in development by Zero Waste Scotland. Research is focused on identifying accurate and representative data that is needed to estimate the environmental impacts and how best to communicate results to stakeholders according to international best practice. Information on progress to date can be found here: To carbon targets, and beyond! | Zero Waste Scotland .

As the Scottish Waste Environmental Footprint Tool (SWEFT) is developed it will be used as appropriate to support policy making, helping to ensure that we have a sustainable international material footprint, and supporting the Scottish waste and resources sector to play its full role in tackling the global climate emergency.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08833 on 14 June 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

There have been four Gateway Reviews of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme. Regular Gateway Reviews are a standard part of the Scottish Government’s project management framework, there is no requirement to notify the Scottish Parliament in advance when a Gateway Review is commissioned.