 Maen nhw'n arlaedd, mae'n gweithio ygoch gyda cyfryngau heb y byddai i gêm nhw. Mae'n nhw'n hallag i gweithio y cwestiynau chi yn ymrwyg. Mae'r dewis y cyfryngau cyfting a gweithio gydymiannol. Mae'n eich ei gwlad yn ei ddatblygu o ddusio'r newid, lleiwg, cyflymais, ac i gyflymu allanol. Mae'n gweithio eich cyflymais a cam wnaethau cwylwyd Cymru i sicrhau ac i gyflymu allanol i gwybethio'r newid, ymdd Girls and Girls is now on our proposals for a new national litter and fly tipping strategy closed on 31 March. We are currently analysing the responses. The final strategy will be published later this year, taking into account those consultation responses. Proposals in the consultation, including measures to strengthen enforcement, raising fixed penalties, improving data collection and supporting private land owners and local authorities, illegal waste ond weithio bod maen nhw'n gweld i ymenteilio i sgolwyr gwniol, ond weithio'n gweld i'n g勝os a'r angen o'n gofal iawn i digwydd, dreidio i'n gweld i ddysgu ryw mwy oesומ�odau yn gwahanol. Colin Beattie Flaidtyping yn litreng gwasanaethn yn gweld i'r ysgrifennu ei wneud i ei ei ddych chi'n bwrdd. Meidlodig yn gyhoeddiad Flaidtyping fod ymweld i'n glun Sandwyr i bwysig i unrhyw y lleolau unrhyw o'r mythdoedd hon i sylfaenal af nghowitz. What further support can the Scottish government give to help local authorities, police, the procurator, the fiscal services and even private landowners to tackle fly tipping and ensure appropriate actions taken to prosecute those who do so? I fully appreciate the challenges facing private landowners and local authorities and the impact that the pandemic has had on reporting littering and flytipping rates. Although the ultimate responsibility for cleaning up litter and materials that have been flytipped rests with the local authorities and with landowners, we are working across multiple agencies to try and tackle the issue with a firm focus on prevention. Our national litter and flytipping strategy consultation also proposed a range of further measures to enforce litter and flytipping offences, including raising fixed penalty notices and exploring the use of civil penalties, which we will pursue subject to the outcome of the consultation. The minister will know that I have recently completed a consultation on potential legislative changes around flytipping. I look forward to meeting her ministerial colleague next week to discuss those. However, one issue that has come clearly out of that consultation is the public concern about restricted access to council recycling centres, potentially being a factor in encouraging people responsibly to flytipping instead. I know that Fife Council is looking at reducing its charges for bulk uplift of waste in order to try and make that an easier route for people. Will the Scottish Government look at how they can better support councils that want to provide better and cheaper facilities for those who want to do the right thing? The Scottish Government shares Murdo Fraser's ambition to tackle flytipping and our recent consultation set out proposals on areas that I know Mr Fraser had identified for for the action, including improving data quality and strengthening the enforcement measures that I mentioned previously. However, there are some differences in the proposed approach to the bill, and I know that he mentions that he will be meeting with my colleague Lorna Slater next week. As regards access to local authority recycling centres, that is something that local authorities understandably had issues to deal with over the process of the pandemic. Access to those facilities is obviously very important, and consideration of all those issues were borne in mind as we developed the consultation, and the responses to which we are now reviewing. I ask the minister if he can update the Parliament on what the Scottish Government is doing to assist with recycling hard-to-recycle items. On Monday, the Scottish Government launched two consultations on a circular economy bill and a waste route map. Together, those consultations set out the key proposed actions and the tools that will be put in place to help everyone to play their part in cutting waste in our economy and in capitalising on the economic opportunities that a circular economy clearly presents. The route map includes a proposal to embed decisions about recycling in the design and sale of products. My colleague Lorna Slater has also recently announced the first investments from our landmark £70 million recycling improvement fund, and that is over £20 million being awarded to 13 local authorities to increase the quantity and quality of recycling, marking the beginning of one of the biggest investments in recycling infrastructure. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding any support that is given to the renewable energy supply chain. Minister Ivan McKee. Renewbill energy is a crucial element of our transition to deliver a net zero economy, and we are determined to maximise the economic opportunity for the Scottish supply chain for renewables, but, especially offshore wind, we remain committed to using every lever within our devolved confidence to support and grow the supply chain here in Scotland. For offshore wind applicants to the Scotland wind, leasing round were required to submit a supply chain development statement to Crown Estate Scotland, setting out the anticipated level and location of supply chain impact and failure to deliver the commitments laid out. In the final development statement, we can trigger remedies ranging from financial penalties to an inability to progress to sea bed lease. David Torrance. Would the minister agree that the Scottish supply sector and its skilled workforce has a huge export of opportunities? Can the minister highlight how the Scottish Government is promoting and supporting the renewable sector to expand into international markets? I would agree that the Scottish Government recognises the huge potential within the renewable sector to support the growth and resilience of the Scottish economy by increasing its reach for international trade. That is why we are committed to working with the industry to develop a renewables sector export plan in 2022 as part of the delivery of a trading nation, our export growth plan and the national strategy for economic transformation. The story of the industry is too often a story of broken promises, offshore jobs and neglected supply chains. I am sure that the minister will agree that it does not have to be that way. Will the minister consider new conditions on support for the sector, guaranteeing that a minimum percentage of jobs created with Scottish Government support remain in the Scottish economy? Does he think that it is reasonable, as the GMB trade union insists, that at least 50 per cent of manufacturing and fabrication jobs in offshore wind, a sector that the Scottish Government supports, should be located in Scotland, securing well-paid work and supporting our supply chains? We want to maximise the number of jobs in the supply chain that are in Scotland. That is why we are putting in place the supply chain development statements to drive developers to use local supply chain. That is why we are putting in place the £75 million energy transition fund and the £180 million emerging energy technologies fund. That is why we are working with the sector, as I do through being co-chair of the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council, working with Deep Wind and Forth and Tay clusters to identify Scottish businesses that can benefit from the supply chain opportunities and working with Scottish renewables to identify Scottish businesses that we can develop, along with Scotland's ports to maximise the amount of that work that takes place in Scotland and working with key global inward investors, as I do and my colleagues do on a regular basis to bring their capability to Scotland so that they can employ people in Scotland manufacturing those products here, rather than elsewhere. All of that, of course, we have to do while remaining compliant with the state aid roles. To ask the Scottish Government how many people in central Scotland have been helped on to the property ladder through government schemes since 2016-17. The shared equity schemes are one of a number of ways where supporting individuals to access affordable housing has set out in our housing to 2040 strategy. A total of 31,363 homes have been purchased in Scotland via the Scottish Government's shared equity scheme, which includes the open market shared equity scheme, new supply shared equity, first home fund and help to buy Scotland. Of those, 25,302 homes were in central Scotland. That figure represents completed purchases in the past five financial years and covers the number of homes rather than individual people. Mark Griffin? The numbers being supported through the lift scheme now the only one available have tumbled in recent years from 126 across the central Scotland councils in 2017-18 to just 12 in 2021. The cabinet secretary has agreed to meet with Cal Greavers, who cannot find a home that meets the lift requirements and is now crowdfunding for a deposit. Will the cabinet secretary agree to use this summer to look at enhancing lift to revisit the decisions from last summer to close the help to buy and first home fund scheme since? I think that the advice that was based on was because lift made up 20 per cent of the affordable housing numbers, but now that figure has tumbled to just 14 per cent in 2021. Let me first of all say to Mark Griffin that, of course, I do want to meet Cal Greavers, and I recognise two particular aspects about his case. First of all, are about his particular needs, but secondly some of the difficulties within the Edinburgh housing market. Looking beyond that in a more general sense across Scotland, first-time buyer activity has shown a strong recovery, and mortgage approvals for first-time buyers in Scotland increased by 13 per cent for the 12-month period to quarter 1 2022, compared to quarter 1 2021. Of course, those schemes were set up to support buyers at a time when mortgage lenders were less likely to lend to those with a smaller deposit. What we have seen as a steady recovery in the higher loan-to-value mortgage market means that the interventions that we require have changed. Against the financial backdrop, we have had to prioritise the available funds that we have, and that has meant that we focus our support for low-income buyers, those that are most marginal by maintaining the lift scheme. Essentially, we put money to those people who would otherwise not be able to afford home ownership. There is no equivalent scheme run for low-income purchasers by the UK Government, and we feel that this is the right balance to strike. Of course, I am always happy to look at some of the individual circumstances, and I think that Cal Greavers highlights some particular issues that I am wanting to meet to discuss and to look at how we might help to take some of those issues forward. Mairi McNeir. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to protect communities from excessive aircraft noise. We recognise the impact that aircraft noise can have on communities, particularly those around runways. Major airports are required to put in place and take reasonable steps to deliver a plan to mitigate that impact and that under the Environmental Noise Scotland regulations of 2006. They must update the plan every five years in consultation with communities. As we enter the busy summer period, we encourage airports to engage effectively with local communities to consider how best to mitigate noise impact. However, it is always worth reminding ourselves that our connectivity is increasingly being provided by latest-generation aircraft that are quieter and cleaner. Mairi McNeir. I thank the minister for that answer. I can advise the minister that I am meeting with Glasgow airports constituents in my constituency who have contacted me to express concerns that plans to mitigate aircraft noise are insufficient in Clydebank and Mogai. I support them when they express their concerns. Can the minister outline the importance the Scottish Government places on the need for local communities to be at the heart of mitigation plans? Yes, I am absolutely happy to engage with local communities on noise mitigation measures. It is very important and I encourage airports to continue to do this as they deliver and update their noise action plans. I am pleased to learn that Glasgow airport will be setting up a noise action forum, which will include representatives from the community. I am also pleased to hear that they will shortly be meeting with the member. Alex Cole-Hamilton. The minister will be aware that long-awaited airspace redesign around Edinburgh airport had to be abandoned following the pandemic and, effectively, the airport put back to square one. That included much-needed offset departures over the village of Crammond, which would have reduced noises in my west Edinburgh constituency. Can I ask the minister what discussions she is having with Edinburgh airport and the Civil Aviation Authority about assisting them in getting back to that place where they had to leave off? The specific issue that Alex Cole-Hamilton raises is not one that rests squarely within my ministerial portfolio, but I am more than happy to speak with my colleagues, discover which of us has been dealing with that and get them to engage directly with Alex Cole-Hamilton. To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of electricity generated in Scotland in 2020 was from nuclear. Minister Richard Lochhead. In 2020, 25.7 per cent of Scotland's electricity was generated by nuclear. For the answer, according to the Climate Change Committee's net zero, the UK's contribution to stopping global warming report. To hit net zero, the UK will need four times more clean power by 2050. They further say that 38 per cent of that needs to be firm power. That means consistently generated and reliable regardless of weather conditions or battery life. From what source will Scotland get that 38 per cent of firm electricity generation? I say to the member that, so far this year, only 19 per cent of electricity has been sourced from nuclear. Just last week, wind power contributed a record amount of electricity to Britain's needs, meeting half of the island's electricity needs one day alone. The view of this Government is that nuclear is not the answer to Scotland's energy security or energy needs. It is far too expensive, will take years and there remains safety and environmental concerns. Scotland's future is based on the abundance of natural resources and renewable electricity and renewable energy. The amount of renewable electricity generated in Scotland in 2021 was the equivalent of powering all households in Scotland for almost three years, and that is Scotland's future. I asked a straight question about where the 38 per cent of firm electricity is going to come from. The minister did not even attempt to answer that question, which is just not a good reflection on the minister or this Parliament. I wonder if he might be given another opportunity. The minister has been given an opportunity to answer that question. The content of contributions is not a matter for me, but, of course, under the code of conduct, which insists on courtesy and respect, among members for one another, it is obviously clear that we expect answers to be as responsive as possible. I call Kenneth Gibson. Hunterston B in my constituency ceased electricity generation in January, so asking about 2020 output is surely irrelevant. Does the minister agree that, with Austria's energy minister raising the spectre of an, I quote, severe accidents with high-releases, closed quotes at sizewell sea to be built and suffoced due to the reactor design, we should not be considering new nuclear fission generation in Scotland? The member is quite right to highlight some of the serious concerns that are expressed about the safety and environmental implication of nuclear technologies. That is why the Scottish Government does not support the building of any new nuclear power stations in Scotland, and it will not feature as part of our wider energy strategy review that will take place later this year. We will continue to assess any new technologies that are based on safety, value for customers and their contribution to Scotland's low-carbon economy and energy future. To ask the Scottish Government whether we will provide an update on its deposit return scheme. We are implementing an ambitious deposit return scheme, which will be the first in the UK and go live from 16 August next year. I am delighted that the Scottish National Investment Bank and Bank of Scotland have announced a total of £18 million loan funding for Circularity Scotland. It is a tremendous vote of confidence in our DRS and in them as the scheme administrator. Recently, Circularity Scotland has also published details of the handling fee that will be paid to retailers operating a return point and the specification for reverse vending machines. Confirming those details is a major step forward and will allow industry to move ahead with its preparations. I am grateful to the minister for that answer. Indeed, it is to do with the Scottish National Investment Bank funding that I would like to address my supplementary question. I think that many people were surprised that the deposit return scheme was receiving funding from this source, given that the National Investment Bank was meant to be about strategic priorities, addressing market failure and driving enterprise. Is it appropriate to be funding public policy through that means, especially given that the Scottish National Investment Bank's funding will decline to zero in the timeframe of the resource spending review that was announced yesterday? As I assumed, Daniel Johnson is aware, investment decisions of the Scottish National Investment Bank are taken entirely independently of ministers. However, given the opportunity to talk about DRS today, I am very pleased to reiterate that it will go live in August next year. When it does so, it will be the first in the UK. It will be the most environmentally ambitious and accessible in the EU. It will sit alongside landmark investment of £70 million in recycling infrastructure. On today of all days, as Scotland becomes the first country in the UK to ban some of the most problematic single-use plastics, it will make an enormous contribution to our environmental and our anti-litter objectives. Question 7, Jim Fairlie. Let me ask the Scottish Government what support is available to local authorities to encourage the development of district heating systems in conjunction with the incineration of waste rather than sending waste to landfill. Thank you. In February, we launched our £300 million heat network fund, which helps local authorities and private companies to develop heat networks, including making use of existing waste heat where possible. We currently support heat network projects in Aberdeen and Midlothian that will use waste heat from energy from waste. However, it is important that waste heat producers decarbonise their operations to ensure that we meet our net zero target. We recently also published the independent review of incineration, which recommended that the Scottish Government sets an indicative cap for the amount of residual waste treatment needed. We will be setting out a response to that report in June. I would like to thank the minister for that answer. I recently attended a CPG on Nordic countries and was very interested to hear from Morton Doodle from the Danish board of the district heating, who told us that around 50 per cent of Danish heat demand is serviced by district heating and heat networks. In my own constituents of Persia, South and Kenrosia, there are plans for an energy from waste plant at Ben Eco Park. Can the minister say how areas in Scotland have invested in such systems and how communities can consume the energy or heat that is produced in their locality? Is that local production to be consumed via the national grid? Mr Fairlie is right to point to the much more extensive use of heat networks in some other European countries. Currently, upwards of 1.18 terawatt hours of heat is supplied by heat networks in Scotland. We want to see significant growth so that by the end of this decade, six terawatt hours of heat is supplied by networks. We recently published the first national assessment of potential heat network zones to identify areas in which heat network deployment could be most effective. We are providing £300 million per year of Scotland's heat network fund to develop heat networks, which could, if well located, utilise waste heat. In some places, existing waste from energy plants may be in a position to supply both heat to heat networks and electricity to the grid. However, we need to be clear that the growth of heat networks is not contingent on increasing the availability of heat from this particular source.