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We have committed to the development of a new National Pharmaceutical Agency (NPhA), to improve links between the life sciences industry and the NHS, and ultimately improve patient care. An intended launch date for the NPhA has not yet been set.

While the Scottish Government has not met with GS1 to discuss the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), the scheme administrator Circularity Scotland has set out the requirement to use a GS1 compliant barcode and will therefore be adhering to its standards.

Under the DRS governance framework, stakeholder groups have been established to enable officials and ministers to effectively engage with industry.

Ministers and officials regularly meet with environmental stakeholders including Friends of the Earth.

The last time Ms Slater met with Friends of the Earth was on 17 May

Friends of the Earth were invited but unable to attend a meeting with Ms Slater and eNGO’s on 2 June 2023, to discuss the impact of the UK Government’s decision not to grant a full IMA exclusion for the Scottish Deposit Return Scheme and to consider the implications of this decision on the environment in Scotland.

This information has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre under BiB No. 64319.

The Scottish Government is committed to the benefits of our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). However, following the UK Government's decision not to provide a full exclusion to the Internal Market Act I have announced in Parliament that we will be pushing the launch of the DRs back to October 2023.

A set of impact assessments including an Equalities Impact Assessment, Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment, Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment and Island Communities Impact Assessment were published alongside the original DRS Regulations in 2020. This included the impact on local authority budgets. Any significant changes to the scheme will most likely require further engagement with stakeholders, impact assessments and regulatory change.

Scottish Government has regular engagements with local government and other key stakeholders. Local government is represented on our Ministerial Strategic Advisory Group, and our Hospitality Sector Group, as well as on the Waste and Resources Sector Forum and joint Scottish Government/Local Government Strategic Steering group on Circular Economy and Waste with respect to wider waste and circular economy policy. They will have a role to play in the governance of the DR which will look at strategic and operational issues.

Projects receiving funding through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme will be considered for additional grant in relation to unforeseeable and unavoidable cost over-runs which may be identified following tender approval as outlined in our Affordable Housing Supply Programme Process and Procedures guidance – Annex E: Cost over-runs. More Homes Division within the Scottish Government is responsible for assessing and processing such claims and the grant applicant should contact their local area team to discuss projects they wish to be considered.

Scottish Government Ministers and officials meet regularly with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Faculty of Public Health, to discuss areas of mutual interest.

The design of the ship is the responsibility of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow. We are aware that detailed design of Hull 802 will draw upon lessons learned during the design and build of MV Glen Sannox.

Ministers continue to have regular dialogue with Trade Unions. Trade Union Representatives have welcomed the Written Authority as they acknowledge the Port Glasgow yard’s importance to the local community.

The Scottish Government did not have any discussions with Cemre Marin Endustri in relation to the production of vessel 802. CMAL is the procuring authority and would therefore be responsible for any market engagement that might be required.