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How local authorities manage market driven budgets are a matter for individual local authorities who are autonomous bodies, responsible for managing their own day to day business and answerable to their electorates. In view of this it would not be appropriate for the Scottish government to interfere in that local democratic process. Local authorities must use their resources as efficiently as possible and deliver services effectively to ensure taxpayers get the best possible value.

However, the Scottish Government continue to meet with COSLA and local authorities on a regular basis to cover a range of topics, including current and future budget pressures.

The breakdown of Scottish Government funding through Zero Waste Scotland, to support Local Authorities aligning their services with the Household Recycling Charter, is outlined in the following table:

In 2019, the First Minister announced a programme of investment over 4 years to improve perinatal and infant mental health services across Scotland.

The Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board was established to drive forward this work by providing oversight and strategic direction. This includes supporting boards to develop services and ensure that recruitment happens in a timely manner.

Since March 2019, the Scottish Government has invested over £16 million in perinatal and infant mental health.

This figure includes;

• funding for community specialist mental health services in every health board in Scotland and inpatient services for women and families with the highest level of need,
• investment in the third sector across 33 organisations providing perinatal mental health support to women and families, and
• funding to support the voices of lived experience to shape the development of policy and services, and raise awareness of perinatal and infant mental health among professionals, policy makers and the public.

Scottish Government will continue to invest in these services over the life of the Programme Board. We will continue to invest in perinatal and infant mental health to extend our investment in these services beyond the life of the Programme Board. This funding will enable boards to recruit the required staff, fully establish specialist community perinatal and infant mental health services and deliver on Scottish Government commitments towards perinatal and infant mental health in the long term.

The Programme Board has incurred £423,044 in costs since 2019-20. This includes fees for Programme Board management, research and publishing, as well as the administration and development of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health third sector funds.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03402 on 20 October 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

We expect all relevant businesses to fully comply with Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme.

We are working with industry, local government and environmental groups to develop a route map to deliver our waste and recycling targets for 2025. This work will also be critical in determining how the waste and resources sector will contribute towards lower carbon emissions in the period to 2030 and beyond.

We are working with industry, local government and environmental groups to develop a route map to deliver our waste and recycling targets for 2025 and beyond. As part of this work, local variation in recycling performance and its causes are being carefully considered, building on the work to identify key challenges and lessons through Scotland’s 2019 Recycling Summit. There are numerous factors that impact on recycling rates, including housing stock, social demographics, rurality, service design & delivery and communication to residents.

We are working with industry, local government and environmental groups to develop a route map to deliver our waste and recycling targets for 2025. This work will also be critical in determining how the waste and resources sector will contribute towards lower carbon emissions in the period to 2030 and beyond.

The Scottish Government, in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, SEPA and Circularity Scotland Ltd, are engaging with businesses to address their queries and concerns regarding Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme. SEPA is also in the process of developing guidance for producers, retailers and return point operators to help them meet their obligations under The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations.

We do not monitor individual businesses readiness to comply with the Deposit Return Scheme. However Zero Waste Scotland, Circularity Scotland, the Scottish Government, SEPA, and Zero Waste Scotland have been engaging with businesses and trade associations to help them understand their obligations under the regulations.