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The Scottish Government cannot exempt marine litter community clean-ups in litter sink areas from landfill tax. Scottish Ministers cannot intervene on tax matters. Revenue Scotland is the Non-Ministerial Department which is responsible for the administration and collection of the Scottish Landfill Tax. This Department invites applications for exemptions from those who feel they fulfil the criteria as contained in Part 2 of the Landfill Tax (Scotland) Act 2014. The Scottish Landfill Tax (Exemption Certificates) Order 2015 provides discretion to provide Local Authorities, SEPA and some other authorities that exercise removal powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Act at s. 59(6) – (9) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, with an exemption for landfill tax liability that might arise from the clear-up of a site following an unauthorised disposal. Each case would be assessed individually by Revenue Scotland.

The Scottish Government is taking action to reduce the amount of litter entering all our waters, not just in the Clyde, to bring ecological, economic and social benefits. Our approach and actions are listed in our Marine Litter Strategy, overseen and co-ordinated by the steering group.

The next meeting of the Marine Litter Strategy Steering Group will consider the litter sink in Arrochar and will explore initiatives which seek to address this issue.

The Scottish Government does not currently provide funding specifically to tackle litter sinks. However, the issue of funding to tackle litter sinks will be under consideration at the next Marine Litter Strategy Steering Group.

There is no single body responsible for the collection of marine litter washed up at the shoreline. The collection of marine litter left at the high tide mark on the shore is the responsibility of the land owner.

There is currently no centrally held assessment of the impact of marine litter on tourism. The evidence base for the levels of marine and coastal litter is limited and the Marine Litter Strategy seeks to build on existing data capture.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10108 on 1 August 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-10108 on 1 August 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The following table details the funding from the Scottish Government’s core Third Sector budget provided to all 32 Third Sector Interfaces for 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 and also funding from Scottish Government’s core Third Sector budget covering a period of 18 months from 1 April 2017 to 30 September 2018, which clearly demonstrates that progress has been made towards the provision of three year rolling funding.

The funding from the Scottish Government’s core Third Sector budget provided for Third Sector Interfaces supports the following six objectives/outcomes:

• People have opportunities to volunteer and are supported to do so

• Volunteer involving organisations are able to recruit, manage and support volunteers

• Social enterprise is effectively supported to develop and grow

• Third sector organisations are well managed and deliver quality services

• Third sector organisations feel better connected with the Community Planning Process and are able to influence and contribute effectively to the design and delivery of the Single Outcome Agreement outcomes and Community Planning outcomes

• The Third Sector Interface is responsive to the diversity of the community and is well managed, governed and effective

The third sector, including Third Sector Interfaces also has access to resources through a range of programmes across the Scottish Government.

In the year 2016 nearly 13,000 orthopaedic patients in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde were treated within the legal treatment time guarantee with around 1,300 patients waiting longer than 12 weeks. I recognise that for some patients they are waiting too long for treatment which is why I have made £50 million available to NHSScotland with up to £11.2 million being made available to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. This additional funding will build up their capacity to make sure that all patients are treated in a timely fashion.