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The Scottish Government meets regularly with representatives of the Scotch whisky industry to discuss Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). The Scotch Whisky Association is a member of the DRS System Wide Assurance Group which meets often to monitor the progress of the scheme’s implementation.

Most recently, on 20 April this year, the First Minister and the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy, and Biodiversity, met with industry leaders, including representatives from the Scotch Whisky Association and other producers and retailers to discuss DRS and how all parties can work together to ensure a successful launch on 1 March 2024.

Protecting victims and the public from harm is the Scottish Government’s absolute priority.

Prison will remain a necessary option, particularly for those who pose a risk of serious harm, in removing the individual from the community and reducing the likelihood of further offending for the duration of their sentence. As reflected in our National Strategy for Community Justice, there is also clear evidence that community-based sentences can be more effective in reducing reoffending and assisting with rehabilitation than short term custodial sentences, while protecting the public and robustly managing risk.

Overall, taking an individualised approach is therefore critical. Sentencing decisions in each individual case are, of course, a matter for the independent courts to make within the legislative framework set by Parliament, taking all the relevant facts and circumstances of each case into account.

Apprenticeships are a vital resource for employers to invest in their workforce and for people to develop their skills. Investing in skills across people’s lifetimes is critical to our future productivity and success, underlining our commitment to a skilled workforce set out within the National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

Our priority is for high quality apprenticeships that provide sustainable jobs and careers, supporting our transition to net zero.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) have issued contract awards to support up to 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeship starts in 2023/24. This builds upon the 25,000 Modern Apprenticeship starts which Ministers asked SDS to deliver in 2022/23. SDS previously issued contracts in March for over 39,000 Modern Apprentices in training for 2023/24, supporting businesses and individuals across Scotland.

This information is publicly available through the SEPA Waste Discover Data Tool: https://informatics.sepa.org.uk/WasteAllSources/ .

Please note, the impact of a cyber attack means there are data gaps covering 2019 and 2020.

Throughout the development of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), all relevant business sectors, including glass producers, were consulted. The Scottish Government continues to engage with industry to ensure that our scheme launches successfully on 1 March 2024.

Most recently, on 5 April 2023 the Director of the Environment and Forestry Directorate replied to a letter from British Glass which restated the Government’s position that glass will be included in Scotland’s DRS.

Social housing evictions are dealt with by the Sheriff Courts. The number of court hearings required in each case will depend on the complexity and circumstances of the individual case. Whilst the number of summary cause eviction applications registered by the Sheriff Courts has increased over the last year following the ending of the Covid protection measures, the number of applications remain s well below pre-pandemic levels.

The ongoing cost crisis continues to place people across Scotland in an unprecedented economic position.

The first report on the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 was published on 12 January. The report outlines the various sources of information considered, formally and informally, including a call for evidence to key stakeholders. It is clear that in both the private and social rented sector, the temporary evictions moratorium continues to be necessary in order to help reduce the negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of tenants caused by being evicted or made homeless during the cost crisis, by providing those being evicted with additional time to access support and find alternative accommodation that meets their needs.

As part of assessing the continued necessity of these provisions we have engaged with those representing landlords, letting agents and tenants in both the private and social rented sectors as well as Local Authorities, the Scottish Housing Regulator, student accommodation providers and Lenders. A Statement of Reasons sets out reasons why The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 (Amendment of Expiry Dates and Rent Cap Modification) Regulations 2023 ("the extension regulations") should be made, including the extension of the moratorium on the enforcement of eviction orders across the rental sector.

It is taking the wider economic context and stakeholder engagement, in connection with the cost of living, into account that we have deemed it is necessary and proportionate to extend Part 1 of the Act. A further report on the operation of the emergency Act is due to be laid before Parliament in July.

At 35.5% of all Higher entries, 2022 Higher entries for STEM subjects have remained similar to previous years, despite fluctuating numbers of entries for individual subjects. Looking beyond National Qualifications in 2022, at SCQF levels 4-6, the proportion of skills-based qualifications, awards and certificates awarded to Education Authority candidates in STEM related subjects was up on 2019 levels, having increased from 12.6% to 35.5%.

Nevertheless we acknowledge the need to continue to support STEM learning. This academic year we offered 150 STEM bursaries of £20,000 to ease the financial transition for career changers wishing to undertake a one year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) that leads to the award of qualified teacher status in the STEM subjects with the greatest demand for teachers.

More broadly since 2017, we have been implementing our STEM strategy which includes work to ensure ongoing take up of STEM subjects with funding being provided to programmes such as ‘Raising Aspirations in Science Education’ a partnership with the Wood Foundation and the Young STEM leader programme which inspires and rewards young people to take up STEM subjects and encourages their peers to do so.

It was determined during the development of the Regulations underpinning Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, that Scotland follow international best practice in line with the ‘polluter pays’ principle, and just like similar schemes around the world, a scheme that will be delivered and funded by industry.

Just like similar schemes around the world, Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is being delivered and funded by industry. It is for them to determine the appropriate manner in which to meet their obligations under the Regulations, including whether or not to establish a private company to act as a scheme administrator.

Given that it is already standard that private companies are not covered by Freedom of Information legislation, and producers themselves formed and administer Circularity Scotland, the Scottish Government does not consider an assessment of any potential impact on relations between the DRS administrator and producers where Circularity Scotland is not subject to Freedom of Information legislation to be necessary.