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Decisions regarding how the deposit will be displayed is a retained power and the responsibility of Trading Standards. The Scottish Government believes that the deposit should not be included in the unit price displayed either on shelves or price-marked packs, rather it should be clear that the deposit is in addition to the item cost.

The Scottish Government is continuing its discussions with the UK Government and other stakeholders in order to ensure that on-shelf displays and price-marked packs have clear information regarding the Deposit Return Scheme to enable consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16112 on 26 April 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/questions-and-answers .

The Scottish Government engages regularly with Inspiring Scotland across multiple policy areas including, but not limited to, the Young Person’s Guarantee, the Promise, children and families, mental health, autism and learning disabilities, rural and island communities, child poverty and procurement.

Levels of engagement are tailored to the requirements of each project and agreed in advance between Scottish Government officials and Inspiring Scotland representatives. Most meetings occur on a monthly basis however, ad-hoc meetings may also occur to discuss arising issues.

These regular meeting focus on matters relating to the development and management of projects we provide funding towards and provide an opportunity for Inspiring Scotland to outline progress made against delivery objectives which are agreed at the beginning of any grant management relationship.

The Scottish Government has regular meetings with The Promise Scotland both at ministerial and official levels. For example, the First Minister met with Fiona Duncan, Chair of The Promise Scotland on 7 April 2023, at which meeting the First Minister committed to supporting The Promise Scotland to ensure that Scotland keeps The Promise to the care community by 2030.

Our recent consultation on restricting alcohol advertising and promotion set out a range of potential options to restrict alcohol advertising and promotion, in order to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harms.

The consultation closed on 9 March. An independent contractor will comprehensively analyse the responses and a report will be published later this year. We will then further consider possible restrictions.

As a private company, Circularity Scotland Ltd is not obligated to comply with requests under Freedom of Information legislation. Circularity Scotland already engage with requests regarding their role in the Deposit Return Scheme, including providing evidence before the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 28 March 2023, and will be holding a Parliamentary drop-in session 03 May 2023. CSL also engage regularly with Ministers and officials as part of wider DRS assurance structures.

The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) Report on the Welfare of Beavers in Scotland made a number of recommendations including:

• The urgent need for comprehensive guidance for landowners etc for non-lethal control which does not require licensing;
• No licences should be issued in the kit dependency period:
• Banning the shooting of beavers in the water would eliminate the problem of poor or difficult marksmanship, which can significantly affect the welfare of beavers;
• While translocations are welcome as an alternative to lethal control, where possible, it is important that robust protocols are followed by trained operators, release areas are assessed properly, to ensure that high standards of welfare are maintained during and after the translocations of individuals.

NatureScot responded directly to SAWC on behalf of the Scottish Government, and that response is summarised below:

• Mitigation is a key theme of Scotland’s Beaver Strategy with a view to minimising negative impacts. The Strategy includes a range of actions to update guidance, raise awareness, help support and innovate around beaver mitigation techniques. NatureScot currently provides specialist advice to land managers through the Beaver Mitigation Scheme and is actively working on a programme of work on the actions outlined above. The guidance is being reviewed in line with the strategy and advice is available on the NatureScot website.
• Currently only exceptional licences may be issued during the kit dependency period (1st April to 16th August). Exceptional circumstances include situations where either serious damage or a threat to public health or public interest is occurring at that time or is imminent and where lethal control is the only means of addressing that issue.
• The examples of poor shooting practice pre-date the introduction of accredited controller training developed when European Protected Species (EPS) status was given to beavers and the introduction of minimum calibre and bullet weights. The examples given cannot be assumed to reflect current practice. NatureScot also noted that the Commission did not base these recommendations on any practical field work following beaver becoming EPS and the introduction of a licensing scheme. NatureScot are also looking at the conditioning of licences with requirement to provide carcass for post mortem.
• In relation to robust protocols being in place in relation to translocations, there are actions relating to all of these points in Scotland’s Beaver Strategy. NatureScot has produced protocols to accompany the recent release licence issued to RSPB Scotland at Loch Lomond. NatureScot will share and invite comment on these from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission with a view to agreeing standard protocols going forward.

Further discussions on the recommendations are currently ongoing between NatureScot and SAWC. Any resulting changes to protocols or licensing arrangements will be published on the NatureScot website.

The Scottish Government is committed to working constructively with COSLA to set a Scottish Recommended Allowance for foster and kinship allowances. Officials are meeting on a regular basis and these conversations have been constructive, yet challenging, given the wider financial environment. We know that it has taken longer than originally anticipated, which is why we are exploring all available options, and working at pace with COSLA to deliver the allowance as soon as possible.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website . The spreadsheets include a wide range of information including details of the organisation/individuals Ministers met along with the subject discussed.

In addition, Scottish Government officials engage with stakeholder organisations as part of the policy development process. Officials, from across portfolios, work closely with One Parent Families Scotland to better understand the needs of single parent families and to ensure these families achieve their potential, reach a decent standard of living and are able to contribute to Scottish society.

Officials, from across portfolios, have regularly met One Parent Families Scotland since May 2021 and will continue to meet with them for the purposes of policy development and grant funding monitoring.

The rate of payment for the Scottish Recommended Allowance is still subject to negotiations with COSLA and, therefore, we have not undertaken an impact assessment. Foster and kinship carers are, however, already entitled to an allowance at a rate set by the local authority, which is age dependent, and should cover the needs of the child. Many local authorities also make additional payments to cover specific requirements. The variation in rates means that it is likely that some local authorities may already be paying a rate that will be equal to, or above, a new national minimum rate. The Scottish Recommended Allowance will, however, ensure that a consistent and transparent level of financial support is provided to all foster and kinship carers across the country.