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The judicial review was brought against Circularity Scotland, which is a private, non-profit entity, created by industry to act as the scheme administrator for DRS. The Scottish Government was not involved in the proceedings.

The court has found that CSL wrongly applied one aspect of the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020 in setting the reasonable handling fee for retailers operating return points. The court did not find that the DRS Regulations are unlawful, nor did it find that the Scottish Government acted unlawfully in setting up DRS or in making the DRS Regulations. The Scottish Government will consider the decision in this case as well as any implications for the Deposit Return Scheme as we work towards launch of the scheme in October 2025 at the earliest.

I welcome the Circular Steel in Scotland: Current landscape and opportunities report published by Zero Waste Scotland, which will inform ongoing policy development including the Energy Just Transition plan.

The report can be accessed via: -

https://cdn.zerowastescotland.org.uk/managed-downloads/mf-qwstm9se-1688475468d

While the report is clear that there is a significant opportunity in Scotland for circular steel, it requires substantial private sector investment . The report also recognises that some potentially impactful interventions lie within the UK Government’s reserved range of powers, including currency, energy (most aspects), product standards, employment law, trade and foreign affairs.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the growth of this sector, and we are encouraging interested companies to seek advice and support from their local Enterprise Agency.

The location and movement of firefighters is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and this information is not held by Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government is absolutely clear that it is vital that funding works most effectively and efficiently to improve outcomes both for those using services and in the sphere of preventative action. We thank the Chair and Advisory Group for the their work. The Independent Strategic Review of Funding and Commissioning of Violence Against Women and Girls Services Chair, Lesley Irving, has recognised that the recommendations contained within the publication are part of a long-term approach given the wide-ranging nature of the Report. The Scottish Government will now consider the report and its recommendations, along with COSLA, local authority partners and wider stakeholders, to ensure a stable footing for funding in the future is developed.

We constantly review the operations of our international offices to ensure their work to promote Scotland remains measurable, transparent and provides value for money.

To help with this review process, each Scottish Government international office submits a monitoring and evaluation report every financial year which measures performance; monitors effectiveness and ensures they are achieving their strategic objectives.

Additionally, from December 2023 onwards, we will publish an Annual Report explaining how our international offices work to promote our values, objectives and priorities across the globe.

Whilst we intend to open a new office in Warsaw during this Parliamentary Term, there are currently no plans to open any further Scottish Government international offices during this time.

We recognise that there are higher levels of chronic pain amongst minority ethnic populations and included minority ethnic participants in the work with both The Lines Between Pain Management Panel consultations: report - gov.scot and Healthcare Improvement Scotland Gathering views on chronic pain | HIS Engage . Whilst budget did not allow for the use of an interpreter, both projects heard from minority ethnic participants. The published Pain Management Panel report details the breakdown of demographics included in the 16 member panel on page 6.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19946 on 3 August 2023. 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 recruitment and retention allowance is payable to individual General Dental Practitioners, and pays £25,000 to GDPs joining the dental list for the first time or returning after a period of five years and practising in an eligible area.

The Scottish Government has expanded the scheme to include vocational trainees, who would be eligible for an additional £12,500 should they decide to train in an eligible area.

The Scottish Government in partnership with NHS Boards reviews the list of areas that attract the recruitment and retention allowance on a regular basis.

Further information, including details of eligible areas, can be found at http://www.scottishdental.org/ .

The Scottish Government has not assessed the impacts of source reduction and separation on the availability of residual waste, specifically for the production of SAF, and other fuels, oil and chemicals. However, it is considering potential actions it could take on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as it develops its aviation strategy.

The independent review of incineration assessed what residual waste capacity Scotland needs to manage Scotland’s unavoidable, unrecyclable residual waste. It modelled several scenarios, including the impact of meeting Scotland’s waste reduction and recycling targets, and concluded that, if all energy from waste facilities in the development pipeline are built to schedule, there is a risk of long-term overcapacity beginning from 2026 or 2027.

The Scottish Government understands that a Dundee consortium, led by Abertay University, have been successful in their bid to house one of three regional CoSTAR labs, which attracts a portion of the £12.5m funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for these regional labs.

We welcome engagement with all relevant parties to help ensure the success of this project, and all work that contributes to a sustainable future for Scotland’s creative industries and related technology sectors.