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We are working with the other administrations on the introduction of an extended producer responsibility system for packaging that will require producers to cover the full net cost of their packaging when it becomes waste. This will encourage producers to reduce unnecessary packaging and improve the sustainability of their packaging.

Public bodies already have a legal duty to take account of how they can improve social, economic and environmental wellbeing in their procurement activities. We have published guidance on waste and efficient resource consumption on our Sustainable Procurement Tools platform to support public bodies in reducing waste in their supply chains. This guidance highlights packaging as an example of where significant waste may arise, and provides examples of where reducing/ eliminating packaging can be included in the Contract Notice and Specification. In January 2021 we published SPPN 1/2021: Taking account of climate and circular economy considerations in public procurement. This policy note signposts the guidance published on the Tools and clarifies expectations with respect to circular economy considerations in procurement, outlining that procurement professionals should consider whether they can buy refurbished, repaired or pre-used rather than new.

The Scottish Government frequently includes requirements for recycling and recycled materials in our frameworks and contracts. Our IT Consumables Framework - a national framework that can be used by all public bodies across Scotland - requires the supplier to recycle all inbound packaging and encourage their partners to reduce packaging. Our Facilities Management Services Framework requires the supplier to sustainably source materials including packaging, and promote waste reduction and the circular economy through including recycled content in materials, including packaging.

My predecessor chaired the Scottish Steel Sector Round Table (SSRT) on a biannual basis. The SSRT completed the work on a report into the state of the steel sector in Scotland at its last meeting on 2 November 2020.

The main concern for the steel industry continues to be energy prices, especially in the light of recent price rises, and the impact this has on wider developments in the industry. Energy is a matter reserved to the UK Government, which earlier this year revived the UK Steel Council. I am a member of this Council and continue to press for progress on matters key to the success of the steel sector in Scotland.

As previously set out, the Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland introduced a Carbon Metric for waste from 2011, making Scotland the first country to measure the carbon impact of its waste in this way, and delivering on our commitment set out in Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan.

The first metric of Scotland’s waste carbon footprint was published in 2013 by Zero Waste Scotland. The 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 metric was developed by Zero Waste Scotland on behalf of Scottish Government, with input from SEPA and a steering committee formed from experts belonging to the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management.

We are considering a range of options on how to take the steel sector forward in light of our net zero ambitions, including electric arc furnaces. These are large-scale ambitions that need large-scale solutions and will require significant private sector investment, and the Scottish Government is discussing these potential opportunities with industry partners.

Scottish Government only hold procurement records for its own fleet. A breakdown of purchases of petrol and diesel fuelled vehicles is provided in the following table.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-00181 on  22 September 2021, when I said that The Programme for Government outlines our commitment to introducing a Circular Economy Bill this Parliamentary session. Legislative plans will be set out in future Programmes for Government.

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 .

As referenced in the answer to question S6W-01360, we had invested £47M since 2014 to assist with the decarbonisation of public fleet vehicles. We have continued to support public sector fleet decarbonisation and the value of support provided is now over £50 million, enabling innovation and trialling of harder to reach vehicles.

A breakdown of this funding (in response to point a) can be seen in the following table.

Public bodies and local authorities will use a combination of vehicle purchase and lease for fleet operations. Vehicle fleets also go through replacement cycles and periods of rationalisation. It’s not possible to determine how many vehicles funded are still in service.

The review of the role of incineration in the waste hierarchy in Scotland will be led by an independent chair who will determine the detailed scope and process of the review. As such, decisions regarding the process of gathering and selecting evidence that is relevant to the scope of the review will be made by the independent chair.

As set out in our 2021-22 Programme for Government, this year we will make our first investments from the £70m Recycling Improvement Fund. This will support local authorities in improving recycling infrastructure and help with aligning recycling collections to the Code of Practice under the Household Recycling Charter and maximise the quality and quantity of recycling.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04100 on 15 November 2021. 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