- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 1 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29498 by John Swinney on 9 February 2016, on what date it will announce plans to extend superfast broadband to the remaining 5%.
Answer
It is not yet possible to confirm a date, although we expect to begin new procurement activity later in 2016. There are a number of steps that need to be taken prior to announcing our plans in detail. This includes finalising coverage to be delivered by the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme, undertaking an Open Market Review to establish commercial plans and agreeing the appropriate state aid route. Currently we are working with the UK Government to develop a proposal to the European Commission for a new UK-wide state aid scheme for broadband. We expect this to be finalised in the coming months.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29452 by Richard Lochhead on 3 February 2016, on what date it will write to UK ministers regarding implementing a deposit return system for beverage containers and whether it will publish this correspondence.
Answer
I wrote to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 31 January 2016 inviting him to discuss the further consideration of key issues on deposit return I announced on 30 December 2015. I am happy to share a copy of the letter with the member.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the responses that Zero Waste Scotland received to its call for additional evidence for a deposit return scheme for beverage containers in Scotland, what assessment it has made of the impact of a deposit return scheme on the Household Recycling Charter.
Answer
I announced on 30 December 2015 the further work that would be undertaken following Zero Waste Scotland’s call for evidence, including consideration of the potential interaction with local authority collection systems.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29439 by Richard Lochhead on 3 February 2016, whether it will publish the response from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food Rural Affairs regarding implementing a deposit return system for beverage containers.
Answer
I have received no substantive response from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29439 by Richard Lochhead on 3 February 2016, on what dates its officials held discussions with UK Government officials; whether these were conducted face-to-face; what was discussed at each meeting, and whether it will publish the associated records.
Answer
Scottish Government officials meet regularly with UK counterparts to discuss a range of issues, most frequently via teleconference. Following my letter to the Secretary of State in June 2015, for which I have not received a substantive response, there have been no meetings between officials specifically to discuss deposit return.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29452 by Richard Lochhead on 3 February 2016, whether the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive are supportive of the implementation of a deposit return system for beverage containers.
Answer
The position of the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive is a matter for those administrations.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29452 by Richard Lochhead on 3 February 2016, on what dates its officials held discussions with Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive officials; whether these were conducted face-to-face; what was discussed at each meeting, and whether it will publish the associated records.
Answer
Scottish Government officials discussed the work undertaken thus far on deposit return and the Scottish Government’s plans for future work via teleconference with colleagues from the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on 7 October 2015, with the Northern Ireland Executive on 1 February 2016 and with both administrations on 22 February 2016. The discussions covered updates on progress and issues that have been raised in relation to a deposit return system. There are no records associated with these meetings.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29439 by Richard Lochhead on 3 February 2016, on what date the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about implementing a deposit return system for beverage containers and whether it will publish the letter.
Answer
I wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 30 June 2015. I am happy to provide the member with a copy of the letter.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the responses that Zero Waste Scotland received to its call for additional evidence for a deposit return scheme for beverage containers in Scotland, whether it will provide an update on its position on developing such as scheme; what discussions it has had with (a) local authorities, (b) manufacturing companies, (c) third sector organisations, (d) bars and restaurants, (e) food and drink companies, (f) retailers and (g) other relevant stakeholders regarding such a scheme; what assessment it has made of the potential (i) advantages and (ii) disadvantages, and whether it plans to make a statement to the Parliament on the matter.
Answer
I announced on 30 December 2015 the next steps following Zero Waste Scotland’s call for evidence, which involves further work to explore the key issues raised in that call for evidence. The Scottish Government is in regular dialogue with all relevant stakeholders identified by the member on this issue. Given that work is on-going, I do not intend to make a statement to Parliament on the matter.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 February 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 March 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29452 by Richard Lochhead on 3 February 2016, on what date it will write to ministers in the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to discuss implementing a deposit return system for beverage containers and whether it will publish this correspondence.
Answer
I wrote to ministers in the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive on 31 January 2016 inviting them to discuss the further consideration of key issues on deposit return I announced on 30 December 2015. I am happy to provide the member with a copy of these letters.