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Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s efforts to reduce climate emissions, tackle litter and increasing recycling. As it is a producer responsibility scheme, in line with similar schemes across the world, it inevitably means significant change for all producers in Scotland.

Drinks producers must register their products in order to continue to sell them in Scotland once DRS has launched. Registration is free for producers with an annual turnover of £85,000 or lower. As an industry-led scheme, it will be for individual businesses to decide what products they wish to sell in Scotland once DRS launches. Any producer with questions or concerns about registration should contact Circularity Scotland for advice and guidance.

The Deposit Return Scheme is an industry-led scheme, delivered by industry, led by the scheme administrator, Circularity Scotland Ltd. Decisions use of materials retained following recycling will be for Circularity Scotland Ltd and industry to take forward.

The Scottish Government is, however, keen to see investment in Scotland and we are therefore making one of the biggest investments in a generation to modernise recycling and support the circular economy. We have launched the £70 million Recycling Improvement Fund which will deliver modernised services for residents, and a step change in Scotland’s recycling performance at both national and local levels.

So far over £44m has now been awarded to 17 local authorities to increase the quantity and quality of recycling across Scotland and this investment has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by over 39,000 tonnes each year – the equivalent of taking over 21,000 cars off the road.

It is the statutory responsibility of all local authorities to manage and maintain their school estate, therefore, we do not routinely collect this information.

Information is however gathered via a Post-Occupancy Evaluation of each school constructed or refurbished through the £1.8bn Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme, and this is a requirement of funding to ensure that lessons learned help inform future investment. A review of this feedback is currently being undertaken and will distil findings by summer 2023 to help identify any actions needed to review guidance or develop new methods for sharing best practice.

In addition, an ongoing series of shared learning events which will are open to all local authorities has also been established as a forum to work collaboratively. These will occur quarterly and include the annual Learning Places Scotland Conference in November.

We understand that BB93 is in the process of being updated and will review the new version when available. Implications arising from this will be assessed and considered for adoption within projects supported through the Learning Estate Investment Programme.

The Architecture and Design Scotland report, Designing for a Changing Climate: Carbon Conscious Places , offers examples of good practice to support a whole place approach to responding to the climate imperative, carbon targets and local places.

The key findings of the report were disseminated widely through a public online launch, presentations to Young Planners Scotland conference, the Scotland's Climate Assembly, and promoted through articles in professional journals. The launch of the report was covered on BBC and STV TV, reaching a wide audience.

The report is included as a reference document within the Scottish Government Update to the Climate Change Plan (2020) and has informed the offer from the Key Agencies Group to local authorities for support with developing the new style of Local Development Plans. The publication webpage was viewed over 3,000 times between October 2020 and January 2023.

The impact on approaches, projects and decisions has not yet been formally evaluated.

Architecture and Design Scotland operates in line with an agreed Framework Document which sets out the basis within which the organisation operates. The Framework Document requires the organisation to produce an Annual Report on its activities and submit accounts to the Scottish Parliament each year. The Framework Document for Architecture and Design Scotland and Annual Reports can be accessed at https://www.ads.org.uk/our-corporate-documents

The relevant Scottish Government Minister meets the Chair of Architecture and Design Scotland annually to discuss the efficacy and operations of the NDPB. Monitoring of the efficacy of the organisation also takes place via regular meetings between Scottish Government officials and the senior leadership of Architecture and Design Scotland. Scottish Government’s Chief Planner meets annually with the Chair and Chief Executive of Architecture and Design Scotland and the Scottish Government’s Chief Architect meets with the Chief Executive on a 6 weekly basis. Scottish Government officials conduct monitoring and liaison meetings with Architecture and Design Scotland on a monthly basis to discuss the operations and efficacy of the NDPB.

Architecture and Design Scotland provides non-chargeable advice and resources to a large number of public and private organisations. This service is extensive and has been provided via a wide range of programmes, events and initiatives since the organisation was established. A breakdown of the number of organisations that the NDPB has provided free advice and resources to is not held centrally.

Architecture and Design Scotland publishes an Annual Review which contains details of their work, including information on many of the organisations and locations that have received free advice and resources through the work of the NDPB. Architecture and Design Scotland Annual Reports can be accessed at https://www.ads.org.uk/our-corporate-documents

Public Library services in Scotland are devolved to local authorities which have a statutory duty to secure the provision of adequate library facilities for all persons resident in their area.

No Scottish Libraries have permanently closed in the last three reporting years. The following table from the Scottish Library and Information Council provides data, compiled by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), capturing the number of service points and net increase / decrease per year between 2009-10 – 2021-22. Information for 2022-23 will be available at the end of the current financial year.

The Scottish Government carried out a consultation on the Future of Gaelic and Scots as part of the work to develop the proposed Scottish Languages Bill. As part of the consultation, the Gaelic and Scots Division undertook a variety of public engagement events to ensure views of local communities were reflected. This included attendance at conference run by the authors of the research, The Gaelic Crisis in the Vernacular Community. The responses to the consultation are now being analysed and will help shape any future legislation.

Total budget allocations for Architecture and Design Scotland since it was established in 2005 are provided in the following table:

There has been one occasion in which the landowner has failed to respond to a formal request under section 10(2) of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 to cull deer.

This is in relation to the recent NatureScot intervention in Loch Choire, where the landowner has failed to respond to Section 10(2), resulting in NatureScot staff undertaking culling on the property under Section 10(4) authorisation. NatureScot are currently determining next steps in relation to the use of statutory powers.