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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-36185

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 31 March 2025
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 April 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the fixed quota allocation set out in Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy 2020-2030 is fit for purpose, and whether it will consider adopting the quota application mechanism pilot programme that is being rolled out in England.

As the name suggests, England is piloting a Quota Application Mechanism (QAM). The QAM initiative commenced in 2024 and included three of the roughly 100 stocks which Fisheries Administrations distribute. In 2025 they have expanded the pilot to include five stocks.

The Scottish Government has implemented an initiative for application for quota in 2025 for West of Scotland cod. In allocating this quota, we seek to incentivise vessels which can evidence a reduced environmental impact and/or greater selectivity of catch in their fishing operations.

Fixed Quota Allocation units (FQAs) are used to apportion the larger portion of the UK’s quotas (roughly 85% in 2025) between the four fisheries administrations. Therefore, any discussion as to the Fixed Quota Allocation system being fit for purpose would require to be held between the devolved administrations, UK Government, the fishing industry (and associated stakeholders) and through public consultation.

The Scottish Government has been clear, since the publication of its outcomes to public consultations in 2021 and in 2024, that it will not use FQAs to distribute a defined share of its quotas. That equates to 15% of Scotland’s total quotas in 2025; this is roughly analogous to the methodology by which the UK distributes these fishing opportunities between the devolved administrations.

Question reference: S6W-36824

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reduce the amount of furniture, textiles and mattresses going to incineration or landfill.

Question reference: S6W-36823

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered directing SEPA to refuse new permits for incineration facilities, in light of the extended producer responsibility for household packaging waste.

Question reference: S6W-36723

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it or its agencies are actively pursuing a place for a UK reprocessing facility for electric vehicle batteries in Scotland, and what discussions it has had with any vehicle manufacturers on this issue.

Question reference: S6W-36825

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 8 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on incineration gate fees of the extended producer responsibility for household packaging waste.

Question reference: S6W-36718

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31149 by Gillian Martin on 19 November 2024, within what timeframe after 2026 it expects to see the projected 2.5% increase to the household recycling rate.

Question reference: S6W-36721

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its upcoming investment for the 2025-26 financial year in efforts to inform and educate the public on waste separation best practice.

Question reference: S6W-36722

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how much it invested in battery reprocessing and recycling facilities in the 2024-25 financial year.

Question reference: S6W-36720

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the delivery of the Recycling Improvement Fund once it concludes in 2026.

Question reference: S6W-36724

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 April 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many employees there have been in waste collection and management in each local authority area in each year since 2019.