Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-02171

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 6 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding introducing a tax on waste incineration services.

The Climate Change Plan sets out the Scottish Government’s commitment to develop a Routemap to meet our ambitious 2025 waste and recycling targets in a way that maximises carbon saving potential. The Scottish Government is working with partner organisations to develop the Routemap.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a tax on waste incineration services. We will however consider the role of fiscal incentives, such as a waste tax, in the context of the planned Routemap and the Climate Change Plan

We have also committed to review the role incineration plays in Scotland’s waste hierarchy, taking account of all available evidence. An update will be provided to Parliament this month regarding the plans for this.

Question reference: S6W-02272

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the response to question S5W-32957 by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 November 2020, whether it has since updated the research on the financial impact of littering.

Question reference: S6W-02169

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had regarding using Scottish Landfill Tax to incentivise biostabilisation of waste.

The Climate Change Plan sets out the Scottish Government’s commitment to develop a Routemap to meet our ambitious 2025 waste and recycling targets in a way that maximises carbon saving potential.

The Scottish Government is working with partner organisations to develop the Routemap, and consider the role that Scottish Landfill Tax and all other potential measures could play in ensuring that we meet the targets and support Scotland’s journey to net zero in the period to 2030.

On the specific issue of biostabilisation, Zero Waste Scotland has commissioned a study to better understand the potential for this as a municipal residual waste treatment process in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-01237

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 July 2021
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 31 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the suspension of parking charges at each of the three hospitals where PFI parking contracts are in place.

Question reference: S6W-02164

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 31 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00122 by Michael Matheson on 3 June 2021, whether the review will have the option to recommend a moratorium on new incinerator construction should it consider such a recommendation is warranted.

The Scottish Government is committed to review the role that incineration plays in Scotland’s waste hierarchy, and are considering options to take forward this review. Parliament will be updated on plans for this in September, when we will outline the scope, timeline and processes for conducting the review.

The review will consider all options within the agreed scope and we will carefully consider all recommendations arising from the review.

The Scottish Government is committed to review the role that incineration plays in Scotland’s waste hierarchy, and are considering options to take forward this review. Parliament will be updated on plans for this in September, when we will outline the scope, timeline and processes for conducting the review.

The review will consider all options within the agreed scope and we will carefully consider all recommendations arising from the review.

Question reference: S6W-02165

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 31 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the forthcoming review of the role of incineration will examine issues beyond waste management such as potential impacts on (a) health, (b) local communities and (c) local authority finances.

Question reference: S6W-02166

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 31 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the forthcoming review of the role of incineration will be independent of it, and, if so, who will conduct it.

Question reference: S6W-02167

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 31 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how long the forthcoming review of the role of incineration is anticipated to last, and what the estimated timeframe is for it to publish its findings.

Question reference: S6W-02168

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 31 August 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether the forthcoming review of the role of incineration will take oral evidence from stakeholders, either in person or virtually.

Question reference: S6O-00082

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to support more sustainable farming.

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