Hansard

There is quite a lot in the petition, and it might help the petitioner if the Scottish Government could provide the context of roadside litter awareness campaigns and say who has been responsible for delivering them over the period in which this Scottish Government has been in charge, since 2007. It would be useful for the committee to have that context.

I would like the Scottish Government to detail who has been responsible for any specific campaigns. I am aware of one that was run by Keep Scotland Beautiful from 2016 to 2019, but I am also aware that there has been varied responsibility for delivering litter awareness campaigns more generally. In 2011, there was the “Dunna chuck bruck” litter awareness campaign in Shetland, which I might have to declare as an interest, as I funded it.

It is important that the Scottish Government tells us how much funding has gone into roadside litter awareness campaigns each year—if it is generous, it might expand that to litter campaigns in general—and who is responsible for delivering them. It should also tell us what the assessment of the dumb dumpers phone line was. That was a national phone line, but if you call it now, you are instructed to call your local authority, which might not necessarily be set up to deal with the issue.

We should also ask the Scottish Government for further information on the national litter and fly-tipping strategy delivery group’s communications sub-groups—what a mouthful—including what actions will be taken at the national level to improve communications about littering. It is important that that action is taken nationally, as this is not purely a local authority issue. We should also ask what engagement has been done with stakeholders. It would also be worth asking whether the littering provisions in the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 will cover unintentional littering from commercial vehicles—I hope that they will, because the 2024 act will not deliver a circular economy if it does not deliver on litter.

It might be interesting to talk to other stakeholders who might have an interest in the issue. Rachael Hamilton mentioned those that manage our trunk roads, including Transport Scotland. I know from paddle boarding under the Friarton bridge how dangerous roadside litter can be, because lots of individuals will throw various things over the side of the bridge.

Finally, on extended producer responsibility, I would like us to ask how the Scottish Government is engaging with producers to help to co-ordinate litter collection and therefore reduce disposal costs, which I know many of the large companies and small producers are keen to do.