Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for ��˿�� to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-25254

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 24 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what impact a deposit return system that includes glass will have on the availability of glass recyclate for remanufacture in Scotland.

According to the best available evidence, the current recycling rate for glass sits at 64%. The introduction of deposit return will significantly increase the quantity and quality of glass recyclate, creating an aggregated and high-quality feedstock for reprocessing. We are committed to working with industry to maximise the economic opportunities associated with this.

There is a duty in the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 for local authorities to provide a collection for glass: they will continue to collect glass not captured by DRS.

Question reference: S5T-01792

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 23 September 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that it meets its new target for banning biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill.

Question reference: S5W-24792

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 August 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 5 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in consulting on what additional measures should be considered to improve the use and reuse of materials.

We are committed to developing Scotland’s circular economy, as set out in our strategy document . Last year we consulted on introducing a deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use drinks containers and we have since announced the of that scheme. Earlier this year, we also consulted, alongside the UK Government, on major reforms to the current .

As announced in the 2019 Programme for Government, we will shortly consult on proposals for a Circular Economy Bill.

Question reference: S5W-24680

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 August 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 5 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether a ban on biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill will come into force on 1 January 2021.

We are committed to ending the practice of sending biodegradable municipal waste to landfill. This will contribute to progress on climate change targets and increase incentives to deal with waste in a more sustainable way.

Available evidence shows that significant progress has already been made towards meeting the 2021 target, with the majority of local authorities having long term or interim solutions in place.

We are aware of the challenges associated with implementing the ban. The ban was set in legislation in 2012 so local authorities and others have had a significant time to prepare. It is therefore disappointing that there is uncertainty around the readiness of some councils.

Our focus is on working with authorities and commercial operators who do not yet have a solution in place to identify ways in which they can comply as soon as possible.

Question reference: S5W-24796

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 August 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how often SEPA has carried out a state of contaminated land in Scotland report and how many local authorities responded to each.

Question reference: S5W-24797

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 August 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions local authorities have notified SEPA of contaminated sites in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S5W-24795

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 August 2019
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many reviews of contaminated land inspection strategies have been carried out in each local authority in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S5W-24677

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 09 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 29 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to Anaphylaxis Campaign's Making Schools Safer Project.

The Scottish Government does not provide support to the Anaphylaxis Campaign’s Making Schools Safer Project.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that education authorities, health boards and schools have the guidance they need to effectively deliver on their responsibilities to support pupils’ healthcare needs. Comprehensive guidance on Supporting Children and Young People with Healthcare Needs in Schools was published in December 2017.

Information on anaphylaxis and allergies is covered in Annex B of the guidance.

Question reference: S5W-24793

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 August 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to regulate third-party puppy sales.

The third party sale of puppies is already regulated in Scotland under The Licensing of Animal Dealers (Young Cats and Dogs) (Scotland) Regulations 2009. Under these Regulations persons who acquire young cats or dogs less than 84 days old with a view to selling them require an animal dealing licence from the local authority.

More widely, The Scottish Government is progressing work to update and strengthen existing licensing legislation covering dog, cat and rabbit breeders, pet sellers and animal sanctuaries and rehoming activities.

Question reference: S5W-24515

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that councils comply with their statutory duty to keep a register of contaminated land.

Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires all Local Authorities, as the primary regulators, to produce inspection strategies for their area which are publically available and are subject to periodic review.

When Local Authorities formally identify a site as contaminated land they are required to notify SEPA and to place the site on a public register.

In addition, the Scottish Government has specific powers under Part IIA to request SEPA to produce a ‘State of Contaminated Land in Scotland’ report. Local Authorities are required to provide information on the condition of contaminated land sites to SEPA for inclusion in the report.