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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-16903

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 5 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the main differences are between its Deposit Return Scheme and the equivalent scheme in (a) Finland, (b) Canada, (c) Germany, (d) Sweden, (e) Denmark and (f) Australia, and, in each case, what the reasons were for taking a different approach to implementation in Scotland.

The following table shows the main differences between Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and the schemes operating in Finland, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Australia.

Comparison of the Scottish Scheme to selected schemes internationally
Region/ Country	Country/ Jurisdiction	Material scope
Europe	Scotland	Plastic (PET), metal (aluminium, steel), glass
Europe	Finland	Plastic (predominantly PET), metal (aluminium), glass
Europe	Germany	Plastic (predominantly PET), metal (aluminium), glass
Europe	Sweden	Plastic (PET), metal (aluminium, steel)
Europe	Denmark	Plastic (predominantly PET), metal (predominantly aluminium), glass
N. America/ Canada	Alberta	Plastic (PET, HDPE, other), metal (aluminium, bimetal), glass, gable top, aseptic, bag-in-box, pouches
N. America/ Canada	British Columbia	Plastic (including polystyrene cups), metal (aluminium, bimetal), glass, gable top, aseptic, pouches, bag-in-box
N. America/ Canada	Newfoundland and Labrador	Plastic, metal (aluminium, bimetal), glass, gable top, aseptic, pouches, bag-in-box
N. America/ Canada	New Brunswick	Plastic, metal (aluminium, other), glass, gable top, aseptic, bag-in-box, plastic cups with foil lids, pouches
N. America/ Canada	Northwest Territories	Plastic, metal (aluminium, bimetal), glass, aseptic, pouches, gable top, bag-in-box
N. America/ Canada	Nova Scotia	Plastic, metal (aluminium, bimetal), glass, gable top, aseptic, pouches
N. America/ Canada	Ontario	Plastic, metal (aluminium, bimetal), glass, gable top, aseptic, bag-in-box
N. America/ Canada	Prince Edward Island	Plastic, metal (aluminium, bimetal), glass, gable top, aseptic, bag-in-box, pouches
N. America/ Canada	Quebec	Plastic, metal (aluminium, bimetal), glass
N. America/ Canada	Saskatchewan	Plastic, metal (aluminium, bimetal, tin), glass, gable top, aseptic
N. America/ Canada	Yukon	Plastic, metal (aluminium, bimetal), glass, gable top, aseptic
Oceania/ Australia	Australian Capital Territory	Plastic (HDPE, PET), metal (aluminium, steel), glass, liquid
Oceania/ Australia	Australian Capital Territory	paperboard
Oceania/ Australia	New South Wales	Plastic (HDPE, PET), metal (aluminium, steel), glass, liquid
Oceania/ Australia	New South Wales	paperboard
Oceania/ Australia	Northern Territory	Plastic (HDPE, PET), aluminium, glass, liquid paperboard
Oceania/ Australia	South Australia	Plastic (HDPE, PET), aluminium, glass, liquid paperboard
Oceania/ Australia	Queensland	Plastic (PET, HDPE, other), metal (aluminium, steel), glass, liquid paperboard
Oceania/ Australia	Western Australia	Plastic, metal (steel, aluminium), glass, liquid paperboard
Oceania/ Australia	Tasmania	Plastic, glass, aluminium, liquid paperboard
Oceania/ Australia	Victoria	Plastic, metal (steel, aluminium), glass, liquid paperboard

In addition to examining other schemes, the Scottish Government consulted extensively with representatives of affected businesses and other stakeholders who would be involved in any Scottish scheme. It was designed to maximise the positive environmental impact while ensuring the scheme was achievable and affordable in order to fully realise the Scottish Government’s environmental ambitions along the journey to net zero.

Question reference: S6W-16908

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 5 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by the chief executive of Tesco that the Deposit Return Scheme is "not fit for purpose", and what work it is doing to engage with the UK’s main supermarkets on this issue.

Following the announcement of the new launch date, the First Minister and the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy, and Biodiversity met with senior industry representatives, including the main supermarkets, to discuss the scheme. While Tesco was invited they were unable to send a representative, however the First Minister was able to meet with the Tesco’s CEO and their Head of Communications & Devolved Government Relations in London of 25 April. The Scottish Government is continuing to work with industry, both producers and retailers, to ensure that when Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme launches on 1 March 2024 it works for all.

Question reference: S6W-16909

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 5 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement with local authorities it (a) has had and (b) plans to have in the next six months, in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme.

We are supporting local authorities to prepare for the introduction of the scheme. Our scheme will mean that local authorities will have less waste to handle, as well as reduce litter and associated clean-up costs, which is good for residents and council budgets. The Scottish Government is supporting Scottish councils to modernise recycling services, and align with our forthcoming deposit return scheme.

The Scottish Government has met regularly with representatives of local authority waste management via the DRS System-Wide Assurance Group that met 13 times since February 2022. Local authorities remain a key partner and will continue to be part of the programme management structures.

Question reference: S6W-17184

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to reduce the substance abuse of nitrous oxide, particularly among young people.

The most recent survey of young people about substance use shows the vast majority of teenagers do not take drugs. Similarly the 2021 Scottish Health Survey ( The Scottish Health Survey 2021 - main report ) provides general information on substance use and indicates that use of nitrous oxide remains low in Scotland.

Nonetheless, we are taking forward substance use education work in our schools through Curriculum for Excellence. Children and young people learn about a variety of substances including alcohol, medicines, drugs, tobacco and solvents. They will explore the impact risk taking behaviour has on life choices and health.

We hope by educating children and young people about substance use and the impact it can have on their life and health, this will prevent them making unhealthy choices.

Question reference: S6W-16911

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) Special Advisers travelled overseas to learn more about how deposit return schemes operate in other countries; how much this cost for each of the individuals who travelled, broken down by (i) flights, (ii) accommodation and (iii) other costs, and how any knowledge gathered was disseminated more broadly to support the implementation of its Deposit Return Scheme.

Question reference: S6W-16912

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 4 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that English craft beer is being labelled as “not for sale in Scotland” due to concerns over the Deposit Return Scheme.

It is for individual businesses to determine whether or not they wish to sell products in Scotland following the launch of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that businesses of all sizes can participate in our DRS. As part of this I announced on Thursday 20 April 2023 in Parliament that changes are to be made to the DRS Regulations so that any product which sells less than 5,000 articles a year in Scotland will no longer have to place a deposit on the product. This change was asked for by business and will apply to producers of all sizes. However, it will particularly help small producers and hospitality businesses.

Question reference: S6O-02222

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is, regarding any implications for its Water Safety Action Plan, on future lifeboat provision in Arbroath, in light of reported concerns expressed by the local community about the service.

Question reference: S6W-17308

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether dog trainers will be in scope for the upcoming consultation on the expansion of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021, following the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s observation in the Report on the use of handheld remote-controlled training devices (e-collars) in dog training that "professional trainers and behaviourists, are unregulated and are not legally required to have understanding of or training in animal welfare, learning theory or the harm/benefit analysis of e-collar use".

Question reference: S6W-17188

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 3 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential prevalence of modern slavery in Scotland's waste management sector.

The Scottish Government condemns all forms of human trafficking or exploitation.

The Scottish Government has not assessed the potential prevalence of modern slavery in Scotland's waste management sector. Police Scotland monitor trafficking and exploitation trends in Scotland and the wider UK closely in order to tackle serious and organised crime effectively, including the potential for trafficking in the waste management sector.

The Scottish Government has provided grants to the Scottish Waste Industry Training, Competency, Health and Safety (SWITCH) Forum. As part of this grant funding, SWITCH has organised monthly webinars covering a range of issues, including modern slavery in the waste industry. The SWITCH webinars are available here: Webinars – SWITCH (switchforum.org.uk) .

Question reference: S6W-17185

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 2 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the health and safety risk of nitrous oxide canisters being found in Material Recycling Facilities and Energy from Waste plants.

The Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum develops and promotes health and safety guidance for the waste management industry with input from industry experts and other bodies, such as the Health and Safety Executive.

Existing WISH guidance offers advice on eliminating or reducing the risk of serious injury associated with the handling, storage and disposal of unwanted or unidentifiable gas cylinders (‘orphaned’ cylinders) that may appear in the waste stream.

WISH has also advised that it is developing new guidance on how Material Recovery Facilities can address the dangers of gas cylinder and aerosol explosions.

Following discussion at the Waste and Resources Sector Forum, waste sector stakeholders are considering any other actions that could be taken to address key fire safety risks. We will continue to work closely with the sector to consider any further actions required to ensure safe recycling and disposal of nitrous oxide canisters.