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The Cabinet Secretary for The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform announced in Parliament on 8 May 2019 that Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) would be a privately operated scheme, in line with international best practice. This approach was then approved by a parliamentary vote on 13 May 2020.

These regulations enabled any public or private organisation to apply to be approved by the Scottish Ministers as a scheme administrator.

Only Circularity Scotland has applied to be a scheme administrator. Their application was considered in line with the regulations.

Any other eligible application received will be considered by the Scottish Ministers.

The provision of designated community dog parks is the responsibility of individual local authorities.

Local authorities can consider and use bye-law making powers to create designated enclosed areas in public parks to provide places where dogs can be off lead and places where all dogs must be on a lead.

The Scottish Government would support a local authority using their bye-law making powers in such a manner if it was considered a proportionate step to help promote responsible dog ownership in the community and appropriate by the local authority. Such decisions are however entirely for individual local authorities.

On 23 December 2020 the Scottish Government updated statutory guidance on the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 to highlight that local authorities can consider bye-law making powers to address a specific dog control problem. For example, if there is an area where dogs are often a nuisance, the matter can be raised for consideration by the council who have powers to make appropriate bye-laws (i.e. to keep dogs on leads in particular areas or to ban dogs from places such as children’s playgrounds).

More generally, the Scottish Government carried out a marketing campaign on dog control with the Scottish SPCA in 2021. This campaign has been re-run on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on a number of occasions since and directs the public to information about ‘The law on controlling your dog’ on the mygov.scot website at: https://www.mygov.scot/controlling-your-dog

This website makes clear that dog owners are responsible for the actions of their dog, and sets out potential penalties for failing to control dogs.

No direct funding has been provided from the Scottish Government to community organisations, third sector organisations and educational facilities with the explicit aim of promoting an understanding of Scotland’s role within the British Empire.

Following the motion passed by the Scottish Parliament showing solidarity with anti-racism in June 2020, funding was provided to Museums Galleries Scotland for the Empire, Slavery and Scotland's Museums project, which was run by an independent steering group, and included a national consultation on attitudes to museums and racism. The Scottish Government provided £100,000 in 2020-2021, with a further £142,000 in 2021-2022 to complete the project and begin follow up work.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15600 on 16 March 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

Social housing evictions are dealt with by the Sheriff Courts. The number of court hearings required in each case will depend on the complexity and circumstances of the individual case. Whilst the number of summary cause eviction applications registered by the Sheriff Courts has increased over the last year following the ending of the Covid protection measures, the number of applications remain s well below pre-pandemic levels.

Fares on the Northern Isles Ferry Services network have been frozen until the end of September 2023 to help combat the ongoing cost crisis facing communities across Scotland.

I appreciate the need to get bookings released so that businesses and individuals can plan ahead, and aim to confirm fares and open bookings beyond 30 September as soon as possible.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering the grade separation of Sheriffhall roundabout, as part of its £300 million commitment to the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

Following publication of the draft Orders and Environmental Statement, Transport Scotland received a significant number of objections to the proposed scheme. Although Transport Scotland engaged widely with objectors, it was unable to resolve all objections. In view of this, a Public Local Inquiry was held from 31 January to 8 February 2023. As with all trunk road projects this is the appropriate statutory forum for considering objections received and not withdrawn. The independent Reporter is now giving detailed consideration to all evidence before making recommendations to the Scottish Ministers for a decision.

Construction of the proposed scheme can only commence if it is approved under the relevant statutory authorisation process and thereafter a timetable for its progress can be set.

The ongoing cost crisis continues to place people across Scotland in an unprecedented economic position.

The first report on the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 was published on 12 January. The report outlines the various sources of information considered, formally and informally, including a call for evidence to key stakeholders. It is clear that in both the private and social rented sector, the temporary evictions moratorium continues to be necessary in order to help reduce the negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of tenants caused by being evicted or made homeless during the cost crisis, by providing those being evicted with additional time to access support and find alternative accommodation that meets their needs.

As part of assessing the continued necessity of these provisions we have engaged with those representing landlords, letting agents and tenants in both the private and social rented sectors as well as Local Authorities, the Scottish Housing Regulator, student accommodation providers and Lenders. A Statement of Reasons sets out reasons why The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 (Amendment of Expiry Dates and Rent Cap Modification) Regulations 2023 ("the extension regulations") should be made, including the extension of the moratorium on the enforcement of eviction orders across the rental sector.

It is taking the wider economic context and stakeholder engagement, in connection with the cost of living, into account that we have deemed it is necessary and proportionate to extend Part 1 of the Act. A further report on the operation of the emergency Act is due to be laid before Parliament in July.

The Scottish Government are working with COSLA through the ‘Joint Working Group on Sources of Local Government Funding and Council Tax Reform’ to encourage the adoption of best practice on debt collection and advice.

Additionally, the Scottish Government promotes the take-up of the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme, as part of Citizens Advice Scotland's Money Talk Team service, which offers free, confidential and holistic advice – from debt advice, benefit take up and council tax reduction, to switching utility providers and reducing household energy costs.

It was determined during the development of the Regulations underpinning Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, that Scotland follow international best practice in line with the ‘polluter pays’ principle, and just like similar schemes around the world, a scheme that will be delivered and funded by industry.