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The Scottish Government is already taking measures to reduce the quantity of plastic in the residual waste stream. In terms of reducing the proportion of recyclable materials (which include plastics) in residual waste streams, we have implemented bans on problematic single use plastic items and confirmed over £20 million-worth of investments in local recycling infrastructure from our £70 million Recycling Improvement Fund, funding a range of improvements including boosting Scotland’s capacity to recycle problematic materials like plastic films. Additionally, we are implementing Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme and reforming extended producer responsibility for packaging.

To build on this progress, our recently published Waste Route Map consultation contains a number of proposals to reduce the proportion of recyclable materials in the waste stream, including reducing consumption of single use items, mainstreaming reuse and improving recycling from households and businesses, for example, by facilitating the co-design of high quality, high performing household recycling and reuse services. The consultation on the Route Map also sets out a proposal for the Scottish Government to facilitate the development of a sector-led plan by 2024 to restrict the carbon impacts of incineration and proposes to work with the waste and resources sector to accelerate the reduction of the carbon impacts of existing incineration plants. We will begin by focusing on measures to divert the highest carbon-emitting materials from incineration, such as plastics.

On 30 May 2022 we published our consultation on Delivering Scotland’s circular economy – a Route Map to 2025 and beyond. The Route Map sets out system-wide interventions to help deliver Scotland’s transition to a zero waste and circular economy, significantly increase reuse and recycling rates, and modernise and improve waste and recycling services. The consultation is available here: Delivering Scotland’s circular economy: A Route Map to 2025 and beyond - Scottish Government - Citizen Space .

The accompanying technical annex summarises available evidence on factors driving the current national recycling performance, and the rationale for proposed Route Map actions. Key factors include infrastructure modernisation, specific geographical challenges contributing to local performance rate variation, technical or economic options for reuse or recycling of products, and the incentives and guidance in place to support recycling participation across our economy and society.

The Nature Restoration Fund is subdivided into two main strands, each of which is further sub-divided, as follows:

1. The competitive strand, which is subdivided into:

• Projects less than £250k lasting 1-2 years;
• Projects greater than £250k lasting 2-4 years.

2. The Edinburgh Process strand:

• Direct allocations to Local Authorities and the National Parks;
• A competitive top-up fund open to Local Authorities only.

Due to the voluminous nature of the data, a spreadsheet containing the requested information has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number: 63496). Applications for the second part of the Edinburgh Process strand are currently being assessed.

(a) there have been a total of 4 contract workers in the past 12 months.

(b) see the following table

For the year 2022 to date the average day rate is £505.03 (inclusive of VAT).

Circularity Scotland Ltd as Scheme Administrator meets frequently with Zero Waste Scotland as part of their ongoing work to implement our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), including through the DRS System-Wide Assurance Group which is responsible for assessing system-wide readiness, as well as the monitoring and addressing of risks to delivery for Scotland’s DRS.

Part of the current national conversation about our National Parks is aimed at developing an Evaluation Framework to identify the next areas to be progressed to National Park status. The Scottish Government and NatureScot will shortly be announcing the second phase of this consultation, at which time further details of the process will be published.

Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS), as well as other partners, is supporting the Scottish Government to realise ambitions for a Circular Economy in Scotland which is critical to tackling the climate and nature crises. In this regard, ZWS is an important delivery partner for the Scottish Government, providing expertise on Circular Economy policy, programmes and research which help to fulfil commitments set out in the Bute House Agreement and the Programme for Government 21-22. The Scottish Government will continue to fund ZWS and other partners that are able to provide the required specialist expertise to progress the Circular Economy agenda.

Evidence of works was required in order to claim funding from the Business Ventilation Fund. This included providing invoices and proof of payment such as a copy of a bank statement. It was the responsibility of local authorities to validate this evidence to satisfy themselves that funding was being provided for approved purposes. This included spot checks of some premises and asking for further details to be provided before funding was released.

Under the Redesign of Urgent Care (RUC) programme, NHS 24 is now available 24/7 and individuals or their carers who think they need to go to A&E but it is not an emergency can first call 111. Their symptoms will be assessed by trained professionals who will direct them to the most appropriate setting for their healthcare need.

Individuals may be directed to their local pharmacy, and they may also be offered a phone or video appointment with their GP or an A&E triage nurse, thereby avoiding a trip to hospital altogether. If A&E attendance is necessary an appointment time can be scheduled to reduce the time they need to spend in the department.

The RUC program aims to improve urgent care pathways for all, however it is potentially particularly beneficial for people with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, who can find long waits in A&E particularly distressing.

The Scottish Government continues to co-fund Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Consultants in NHS Boards to provide expert advice on dementia care issues within acute, community and mental health hospital settings - as well as wider community locations including care homes.

They will support established principles and standards such as that systems are in place so that staff can easily identify someone with dementia and that hospitals have access to advice or assessment by a liaison service specialising in the diagnosis and management of dementia.