Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 20 March 2024
20 Mar 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I want to clarify a point to ensure that the member has not misunderstood me. The provision for fining local authorities, which is the Welsh approach, is the provision that I have been discussing with COSLA and not the provision that the member has just referenced. Currently, the bill takes a criminal approach if people do not desist from contaminating recycling once they have received a notification. The approach for local authorities to apply a more proportionate measure on that issue is still part of the bill.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12552, in the name of Lorna Slater, on the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. I invite members ...
The Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity (Lorna Slater)
Green
I am delighted to open the debate on the bill. I thank the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee for its stage 1 report, and the Finance and Public Admini...
Maurice Golden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
As a result of the measures, when will the 2013 household waste recycling target be met?
Lorna Slater
Green
The member rightly brings attention to some of the challenges that we face with meeting historical targets in this area. That is exactly why the bill needs t...
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
Does the minister accept the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s concerns about where the funding will come from? Does she accept that local author...
Lorna Slater
Green
I am grateful to the member for raising that very good point. I have committed to co-design with local authorities of how we move forward with implementing a...
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
Lorna Slater
Green
I will take one more.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Has COSLA raised concerns about the funding that councils will require to implement some elements of the bill?
Lorna Slater
Green
It has indeed. As I just said in response to Alex Rowley, I am absolutely aware that investment will be needed in order to do that. We are looking at other s...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. I thank two groups of people. First, I thank my committee colleagues for all...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to make a short contribution to the debate on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee. As members might know, my committee col...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Maurice Golden to open on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. 15:13
Maurice Golden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
At the outset, I note that the Scottish Conservatives support the general principles of the bill. A circular economy is an economic system whereby materials ...
Lorna Slater
Green
I remind the member, although I am sure that he knows, that Glasgow City Council has recently received the largest tranche of recycling improvement fund mone...
Maurice Golden
Con
My point is that Glasgow City Council has proven year on year that it does not care about driving up household recycling rates. That is its track record, and...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I invite Sarah Boyack to open on behalf of Scottish Labour. 15:20
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome today’s debate, because Scottish Labour strongly supports the principle of legislation on the circular economy. However, I echo the point that a lo...
Maurice Golden
Con
I am very interested in the success in Wales that Sarah Boyack has described. Does she support the Welsh Government’s approach being applied to Scotland?
Sarah Boyack
Lab
What is key is that we have co-operation, partnership and funding. That is the critical issue that I want to come on to. I have welcomed the work of the Net ...
Lorna Slater
Green
Will the member take an intervention?
Sarah Boyack
Lab
If it is very brief.
Lorna Slater
Green
I want to clarify a point to ensure that the member has not misunderstood me. The provision for fining local authorities, which is the Welsh approach, is the...
Sarah Boyack
Lab
I hope that I will get some of my time back.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You get a bit of time back, Ms Boyack.
Sarah Boyack
Lab
Thank you for that. When the minister goes into detail is when we get worried, is it not? In the way that she presented what she would change at stage 2, I ...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way on that point?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The member is bringing her remarks to a close.
Sarah Boyack
Lab
I need to get to the end of my speech. We cannot ignore the issue of how much waste we export from Scotland, and we know that our consumption emissions have...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You must bring your remarks to a close, Ms Boyack.