Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-10251

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09483 by Lorna Slater on the 21 July 2022, and in light of the comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport when giving evidence to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on the Scottish Budget 2022-23 on 1 February 2022, what information it has on whether Zero Waste Scotland has plans in place to secure private funding once European Structural and Investment Funds come to an end.

Zero Waste Scotland strategy is to maximise the impact of investment in the circular economy and to partner across private and public sectors. This aims to leverage funding opportunities, and to increase co-investment and partnership models to support and to continue to deliver value across circular economy initiatives.

ZWS is also undertaking multi-party engagement with Scottish Government and Scottish Business Climate Collaboration (SBCC) which is 50:50 funded by public funds and SBCC and is working with several businesses to develop business cases for circular initiatives that will then be funded and delivered by companies themselves. In addition co-investment models have been developed with Social Investment Scotland to create a Net Zero Transition Fund for third sector organisations.

Question reference: S6W-10250

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 6 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Zero Waste Scotland would be able to provide independent advice to the Scottish Government on the circular economy and other matters in the event that it would also be in receipt of private sector funding.

Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) is an independent not-for-profit company, which is able to locate, apply for and accept funding from a range of sources. As an evidence-led organisation, any expertise and/or advice ZWS provide to Scottish Government would be based on balanced outputs from research by sector specific policy experts.

ZWS is a key delivery partner for the Scottish Government in relation to circular economy policy and it would be for Scottish Government to decide on whether to use the organisations advice in development of policies.

Question reference: S6W-10168

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a breakdown of funding provided to local authorities that has been ringfenced for net zero projects, in each of the last three years.

	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22
	£m	£m	£m
Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes	8.5	22.3	9.5
Switched on Fleets	9.1	7.7	3.3
Local Authority Installation Programme	8.0	2.2	2.8
Public EV Charging Pathfinder Projects	0.0	0.0	0.4
Switched on Towns & Cities	4.4	4.4	4.5
On Street Residential Charging	0.0	0.0	0.2
Low Emission Zones	4.6	2.2	3.6
Strategic Timber Transport Scheme	5.8	6.2	5.4
Recycling Improvement Fund	0.0	0.0	5.3
Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme	0.0	0.0	0.5
Total	40.4	45.0	35.5

Question reference: S6W-10338

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 1 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ban plastic tree guards and promote the use of delayed biodegradable tree guards.

The Scottish Government is fully supportive of efforts to remove, reduce or recycle plastics used in the woodland and forest environment. Forestry and Land Scotland is moving away from plastic tree shelters and using more biodegradable ones. More work is needed, however, on biodegradable and compostable alternatives before a ban on plastic tree guards is possible. Scottish Forestry is supporting research to test alternatives with partners in the public and private sectors across UK and Ireland.

Question reference: S6W-10162

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 30 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a breakdown by local authority of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) return points rolled out by retailers.

Question reference: S6W-10161

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 30 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the question S6W-09432 by Lorna Slater on 28 July 2022, for what reason the contract (a) with Biffa was not signed by March 2022 and (b) for IT services has still not been signed, and when it anticipates that the contract for IT services will be finalised.

Question reference: S6W-09987

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 23 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31924 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 October 2020, whether it will provide an update on the value of turnover that the reuse economy in Scotland has; how many jobs it supports, and what tonnage of material it enables to be reused annually.

The information is not held centrally.

Some data are available for Revolve certified organisations. Revolve is Scotland’s National Reuse Quality Standard and Revolve stores are supported to work to key standards, and are committed to quality.

In 2020-21 sales through Revolve certified community stores reported to Zero Waste Scotland were over £22 million. The 95 Revolve stores which reported to Zero Waste Scotland recorded 680 full time staff employed and 52,873 volunteer hours from 1,095 volunteers recorded in those same organisations, and approximately 22,000 tonnes of material was estimated to be diverted from landfill. It is not appropriate to compare these totals directly with those of previous years, as a different proportion of stores provided monitoring data and, because of COVID-19, stores were operational for only a fraction of the year.

Question reference: S6W-09891

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices were (a) permanently and (b) temporarily closed to new patients in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board area.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Practices must apply to their Health Boards to close their lists and agree the conditions and timelines for reopening them.

Circumstances will arise where a practice experiences capacity issues and is unable to routinely accept new patients onto its list. We expect Health Boards to work with practices as constructively and as flexibly as is appropriate to help manage the situation and ensure that all patients have access to GP services.

Question reference: S6W-09986

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 18 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-09439 by Lorna Slater on 21 July 2022, which local authorities with residual waste treatment arrangements in place beyond 2025 compliant with the forthcoming ban on sending biodegradable municipal waste to landfill have (a) long-term/permanent and (b) interim arrangements in place, and how long any interim arrangements extend for.

Question reference: S6W-09884

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 July 2022
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 17 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any underspend in capital projects over the financial year 2021-22, broken down by project and the reason for any underspend in each case.

We publish a six-monthly update on the progress of infrastructure projects with a capital value of £5 million or more which are at the Outline Business Case (or equivalent) approved stage or beyond and the most recent update can be found via the following web link: IIP - Major Capital Projects Progress Update - March 2022 ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/infrastructure-investment-plan-2021-22-2025-26-major-capital-projects-progress-update-march-2022/documents/ )

The update mainly comprises those projects included within Annex D of our Infrastructure Investment Plan which was published in February 2021. The update provides details on the progress of projects as a whole and does not provide information on outturn against budgets or align directly to a single financial year.

Financial information on expenditure against budget by portfolio was provided to Parliament in the Provisional Outturn statement on 23 June 2022. A copy of this information has been replicated in the table below, while a more detailed breakdown providing further analysis is included in Annex A.

	Final Budget (£'000s)	Provisional Outturn (£'000s)	Over/(underspend) (£'000s)
Finance and Economy	722,135	622,325	(99,810)
Health and Sport	580,564	664,846	84,282
Education and Skills	405,711	408,841	3,130
Net Zero, Energy and Transport	2,426,877	2,090,681	(336,196)
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture	16,280	17,020	740
Justice	162,065	156,993	(5,072)
Rural Affairs and Islands	79,656	59,493	(20,163)
Social Justice, Housing and Local Government	1,351,878	1,235,483	(116,395)
Total Scottish Government	5,745,166	5,255,682	(489,484)
Other Bodies Funded by the Scottish Government	37,267	44,319	7,052
Funding adjustment	(299,356)	-	299,356
Provisional Outturn	5,483,077	5,300,001	(183,076)

Annex A

Portfolio	Level 3 totals	Final Budget (£'000s)	Provisional Outturn (£'000s)	Over/(underspend) (£'000s)
Finance and Economy	Finance and Economy - Level 3 totals	722,135	622,325	(99,810)
	Agency Administration	2,200	508	(1,692)
	AiB Agency Administration	1,100	682	(418)
	Cities Investment and Strategy	210,300	199,570	(10,730)
	Digital Connectivity	99,310	72,003	(27,307)
	Digital Economy	16,000	15,800	(200)
	Digital Strategy	3,600	8,669	5,069
	Enterprise	135,816	80,953	(54,863)
	European Regional Development Fund - 2014-20 Programmes	-	1,087	1,087
	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	48,448	46,973	(1,475)
	Innovation and Industries	5,600	(7,392)	(12,992)
	Low Carbon	3,200	-	(3,200)
	Planning	2,223	2,179	(44)
	Regeneration	94,300	105,804	11,504
	Scottish Futures Trust	-	71	71
	Scottish Government Capital Projects	21,266	16,670	(4,596)
	Scottish National Investment Bank	123	168	45
	South of Scotland Enterprise	13,400	12,240	(1,160)
	Strategic Industrial Assets	50,000	54,768	4,768
	Tourism	15,249	11,572	(3,677)
Health and Sport	Health and Sport - Level 3 totals	580,564	644,846	84,282
	Health and Sport	580,564	644,846	84,282
Education and Skills	Education and Skills - Level 3 totals	405,711	408,841	3,130
	Care and Justice	2,400	2,323	(77)
	Creating Positive Futures	930	323	(607)
	Curriculum and Qualifications	2,500	2,000	(500)
	Disclosure Scotland Expenditure	6,700	5,507	(1,193)
	Education Analytical Services	548	503	(45)
	Education Scotland	4,500	5,04.	543
	Gaelic	5,680	5,680	-
	Improvement Attainment and Wellbeing	200	200	-
	Local Government ELC Expansion	53	31	(22)
	Scottish Funding Council	380,400	378,643	(1,757)
	Skills Development Scotland	-	2,781	2,781
	Student Awards Agency for Scotland Operating Costs	1,600	1,571	(29)
	Workforce Infrastructure and Reform	200	4,236	4,036
Net Zero, Energy and Transport	Net Zero, Energy and Transport - Level 3 Totals	2,426,877	2,090,681	(336,196)
	Capital Land and Works	155,700	118,743	(36,957)
	Central Government Grants to Local Authorities (NZET)	39,254	39,745	491
	Energy	281,975	36,394	(245,581)
	Environment Quality	1,000	758	(242)
	Forestry and land Scotland	25,580	28,080	2,500
	Forth and Tay Bridge Maintenance	900	576	(324)
	Future Transport Fund	106,874	88,802	(18,072)
	Highlands and Islands Airports Limited	57,700	36,903	(20,797)
	Land Reform	8,000	5,,776	(2,224)
	Major Public Transport Projects	173,092	145,200	(27,892)
	National Parks	4,055	3,169	(886)
	Natural Resources Peatland and Flooding	6,705	-	(6,705)
	NatureScot	17,060	14,301	(2,759)
	Prestwick Airport	-	210	210
	Programmes of Research	34,200	32,310	(1,890)
	Queensferry Crossing	2,100	1,247	(853)
	Rail Franchise	294,000	299,000	5,000
	Rail Infrastructure	501,000	534,997	33,997
	Road Safety	104,400	162,890	58,490
	Roads Improvements	46,208	33,005	(13,203)
	Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh	18,400	8,400	(10,000)
	Scottish Canals	12,200	14,600	2,400
	Scottish Environment Protection Agency	6,200	5,305	(895)
	Scottish Forestry	42,550	28,398	(14,152)
	Smartcard Programme	2,800	3,981	1,181
	Structural Repairs	100,000	61,902	(38,098)
	Support for Ferry Services	21,808	-	(21,808)
	Support for Sustainable and Active Travel	73,350	73,778	428
	Sustainable Action Fund	3,174	(95)	(3,269)
	Transport Strategy and innovation	35,100	-	(35,100)
	Vessels and Piers	55,992	76,839	20,847
	Voted Loans	180,200	230,200	50,000
	Zero Waste	15,300	5,267	(10,033)
Constitution External Affairs and Culture	Constitution External Affairs and Culture - Level 3 Totals	16,280	17,020	740
	Creative Scotland and Other Arts	60	28	(32)
	Cultural Collections	10,220	11,086	866
	Historic Environment Scotland	6,000	5,906	(94)
Justice	Justice - Level 3 totals	162,065	156,993	(5,072)
	Legal Aid Fund - Administration	130	148	18
	National Police Funding and Reform	12,128	9,865	(2,353)
	Offender Services	5	4	(1)
	Prisons Capital Expenditure	55,550	50,960	(4,590)
	Scottish Fire and Rescue Service	36,812	38,956	1,784
	Scottish Police Authority	57,100	56,920	(180)
	Victim/Witness Support	250	500	250
Rural Affairs and Islands	Rural Affairs and Islands - Level 3 totals	79,656	59,493	(20,163)
	Agri Environmental Measures	2,900	7,627	4,727
	Agricultural Transformation Fund	25,000	6,962	(18,038)
	Business Development	15,450	12,741	(2,709)
	Crofting Assistance	1,000	296	(704)
	EU Fisheries Grants	9,600	3,092	(6,508)
	EU Income	(8,000)	(7,301)	699
	Fisheries Harbour Grants	1,000	1,046	46
	Islands Plan	9,276	8,167	(1,109)
	Leader	3,800	3,545	(255)
	Less Retained Income/Capital Receipts	(6,200)	(3,588)	2,612
	Marine Fund Scotland	9,500	8,747	(753)
	Marine Scotland	7,430	7,498	68
	Payments and Inspections Admin Costs	8,600	10,661	2,061
	Rural Cohesion	300	-	(300
Social Justice Housing and Local Government	Social Justice Housing and Local Government - Level 3 Totals	1,351,878	1,235,483	(116,395)
	Building Standards	8,000	241	(7,759)
	Central Government Grants to Local Authorities (SJHLG)	99,850	99,850	-
	Connected Communities	250	-	(250)
	Fuel Poverty/Energy Efficiency	-	76	76
	Housing Support	12,090	14,128	2,038
	More Homes	619,970	512,955	(107,015)
	Social Security Advice Policy and Programme Costs	84,581	82,188	(2,393)
	Social Security Scotland	17,200	14,114	(3,086)
	Support for Capital	509,937	511,931	1,994
Total Scottish Government		5,745,166	5,255,682	(489,484)
	The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal	8,225	9,169	944
	Audit Scotland	600	600	-
	Food Standards Scotland	300	215	(85)
	Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service	16,519	18,269	1,750
	Scottish Housing Regulator	150	147	(3)
	Scottish Parliament	1,500	3,409	1,909
	Registers of Scotland	7,473	9,910	2,437
	Revenue Scotland	500	300	(200)
	National Records of Scotland	2,000	2,300	300
Total Other Bodies funded by the Scottish Government		37,267	44,319	7,052

Funding Adjustments		(299,356)	-	299,356

Provisional Outturn - Capital		5,483,077	5,300,001	(183,076)

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