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Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s efforts to reduce climate emissions, tackle litter and increasing recycling. As it is a producer responsibility scheme, in line with similar schemes across the world, it inevitably means significant change for all producers in Scotland.

Drinks producers must register their products in order to continue to sell them in Scotland once DRS has launched. Registration is free for producers with an annual turnover of £85,000 or lower. As an industry-led scheme, it will be for individual businesses to decide what products they wish to sell in Scotland once DRS launches. Any producer with questions or concerns about registration should contact Circularity Scotland for advice and guidance.

NatureScot has worked with partners on red squirrel conservation, including work to control grey squirrels, for many years. In particular, the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrel (SSRS) partnership project has been working in strategic areas to protect, maintain and promote existing red squirrel populations since 2007. With support from project staff, professional Grey Squirrel Officers (GSOs) have been working with volunteers and landowners to deliver strategic grey squirrel control.

NatureScot, Scottish Forestry and Forestry and Land Scotland are currently providing core funding for these roles. It remains a priority for the Scottish Government to ensure the important work undertaken by Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels continues.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14269 on 7 February 2023. 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 .

Published in December 2021, the NHS gender identity services: strategic action framework 2022-2024 outlined actions to improve access, and delivery of, NHS gender identity services.

A description of the range of work referred to in the answer to question S6W-13576 is included in the 21 November 2022 letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to the Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.

Buildings within the scope of the Cladding Remediation Programme will be subject to a process of increasing assessment scrutiny.

A baseline assessment will identify those buildings which require a full assessment based on an evaluation of fire risk.

The proportion of buildings identified as requiring a full assessment is likely to be low when considering the total number of eligible buildings. This assessment is in line with a House of Commons analysis of the scale of the problems in England.

Single Building Assessments are demand-led and are free for all buildings with residential flatted properties regardless of tenure.

The Scottish Government commissioned independent research into the steel sector in Scotland: this included consideration of the scope for Electric Arc Furnaces in Scotland. This report is available to read online and can be found here .

There will be opportunities through the ScotWind programme, which promises to be transformational in delivering wider economic supply chain benefits to help power Scotland’s green recovery in communities across Scotland.

The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise have also discussed the potential for an Electric Arc Furnace with Liberty Steel Dalzell. The Group continue to have Green Steel practices at the heart of their strategy to help ensure an economically and environmentally sustainable future for the business and industry.

Electric Arc Furnaces are large-scale ambitions that need large-scale solutions and will require significant private sector investment. We are encouraging any company interested in developing an Electric Arc Furnace to seek advice and support from their local Enterprise Agency.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14291 on 7 February 2023. 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

Scottish Government has not made an assessment of this cost. The independent sector is a well-established part of the Scottish education system that promotes choice for parents. Officials are in regular contact with the Scottish Council of Independent Schools to discuss a range of issues that affect the sector.

All Ministerial meetings with stakeholders are proactively published on the Scottish Government website at: -

https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/

ScotRail Trains Ltd. is currently developing a training plan with associated costings to roll out menopause awareness across the organisation. It is anticipated that this will include, among other things, “Train the Trainer” sessions with Henpicked, which will enable the delivery of awareness sessions across the organisation. Henpicked works with organisations to help develop the right menopause in the workplace training, education, policies and practices to make an organisation menopause friendly.

Scottish Rail Holdings has advised that ScotRail Trains Ltd.’s expenditure on menopause-related initiatives to date are as follows:-

• 2022 and 2023 - Annual Membership fee to Henpicked to become a Menopause Friendly Accredited organisation - £1500 plus VAT each year
• 2022 and 2023 - speakers fees for events for World Menopause Day/World Menopause Month – Total £1000