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The following table provides the number of recorded injury road collisions where a police officer attended the scene and ‘poor or defective road surface’ was recorded as a contributory factor.

As this is recorded as a single contributory factor, it is not possible to distinguish between collisions involving defective road surfaces and collisions involving poor road surfaces.

Since exiting the EU, the Scottish Government has set aside additional quota for use by our 10 metre and under sector (predominantly inshore vessels that make up the vast majority of the Scottish fishing fleet). These vessels are associated with fishing methods that are more selective and typically fish with methods that have less impact on the seabed.

In 2025, the Scottish Government will distribute a portion of West of Scotland cod based on an application process which will place environmental considerations at its heart. This seeks to incentivise the use of selective fishing gear and fishing techniques or vessels with a reduced impact on the environment.

In 2025, the Scottish Government will distribute a portion of West of Scotland cod based on an application process which will place environmental considerations at its heart. This seeks to incentivise the use of selective fishing gear and fishing techniques or vessels with a reduced impact on the environment.

This approach is distinct from the process in England. Scottish Government officials regularly meet to discuss fisheries management matters with officials from all UK and devolved administrations, and officials have been in dialogue with Defra to learn from their experiences in launching and administering the Quota Application Mechanism pilot.

The Scottish Quota Management Rules were published on 18 September 2024, these detail how fishing opportunities are distributed to the Scottish fishing industry.

The rules state that a further update may be made, when the application process for West of Scotland cod additional quota launches in 2025. This initiative will invite bids for quota, principally on the basis of enhanced fishing gear selectivity and reduced environmental impact.

The Scottish Government is actively engaging with the other UK nations to explore opportunities to update and strengthen the current battery recycling regulations. This collaborative approach ensures that any future measures are both effective and consistent across the UK, providing a clear and efficient framework for businesses and consumers alike. We recognise the importance of working together to improve public awareness, enhance recycling infrastructure, and address the environmental risks associated with improper battery disposal.

The current regulatory framework, the UK Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009, has been instrumental in establishing recycling systems over the past decade. However, with the increasing use of batteries in consumer electronics and emerging technologies, we are keen to modernise these regulations to better address current challenges and future demands. As part of this, we are considering a range of policies to improve battery recycling rates and reduce environmental harm, including a potential deposit return scheme for batteries and battery-containing products. While such a scheme could bring significant benefits, we recognise the need to address practical and logistical challenges to ensure its feasibility and effectiveness.

Before implementing any new measures, we are currently looking into drafting a consultation with the other UK nations. This will provide an important opportunity for stakeholders, including businesses and the public, to contribute their views and consider the options for improving battery disposal and recycling practices.

We continue to explore a wide range of measures to support sustainable solutions, including encouraging innovation in recycling technologies, enhancing public awareness initiatives to promote responsible recycling behaviour, and working with manufacturers and retailers to improve collection and disposal systems. These efforts are aligned with Scotland’s broader environmental priorities, including the transition to a circular economy and achieving net-zero emissions.

Through collaboration, innovation, and public engagement, the Scottish Government remains dedicated to addressing battery disposal challenges and delivering effective, sustainable solutions for Scotland’s communities and environment.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 make it an offence for a person who, in the course of a business, supplies, offers to supply, or has in their possession for supply any of the products listed below:

• single-use expanded polystyrene beverage containers
• single-use expanded polystyrene beverage cups
• single-use expanded polystyrene food containers
• single-use plastic beverage stirrers
• single-use plastic cutlery
• single-use plastic plates
• single-use plastic balloon stick (unless supplied for attaching to balloons for industrial or other professional uses and applications that are only distributed to persons acting in the course of a business),
• single-use plastic straw (if supplying to an end-user, subject to exemptions)

Estimated figures for the amount of these products placed on the market in Scotland before the Regulations came into force were included in the Environmental Report for the Single-use Plastic Products Regulations, published on the Scottish Government’s website here. And were included in the answer to S6W-04456 on 29 November 2021.

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/written-questions-and-answers

The proportion of schools reported as being in good or satisfactory condition has increased to 91.7% (90.9% in 2023). This is 29 percentage points higher than in April 2007 (62.7%).

The proportion of pupils educated in schools in poor or bad condition has decreased from 8.5% of all pupils (around 60,000) last year to 8.0% (around 56,000) this year. This represents a drop from 37.6% of all pupils (around 257,000) in 2007.

Since 2007-08, 1,139 school builds or substantial refurbishment projects have been completed.

A) Proportion of pupils being educated in schools with a good condition rating in each Local Authority

The Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 requires that Scottish Ministers publish a circular economy strategy and make regulations to set circular economy targets.

The development of the circular economy strategy and associated monitoring and indicator framework will be developed between now and March 2026. A consultation for both is planned for summer 2025 with development of targets to follow their publication. This will include, for example, consideration of material-specific targets as recommended by the Climate Change Committee.

We work closely with industry and other stakeholders, directly and through Zero Waste Scotland, to understand and consider new approaches and technologies as they develop. These will be taken into account when developing the Circular Economy Strategy.

Announcements of ministerial appointments to all public bodies, including NHS boards, since 2020 can be found on the Scottish Government website at https://www.gov.scot/collections/public-appointments-announcements/. Each announcement includes a declaration of any political activity within the five years preceding appointment.

This information is not available for appointments prior to 2020 and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.