8th December 2022

Circularity Scotland Update – DRS registration opens this month

• Click here to view the latest Stakeholder Update from Circularity Scotland Limited, for December 2022.

• NOTE: Producer Registration with Circularity Scotland will begin from 12th December.

• If you have any queries, please email enquiries@circularityscotland.com

Scottish Grocers’ Federation Press Cuttings (week of 28th Nov)

• Please find a range of press articles with comments and contributions from SGF, available to view here.

UK GDP quarterly estimate: (July to September 2022)

• Scotland’s GDP fell by 0.2% in real terms during the third quarter of 2022 and is still 1.1% below pre-pandemic levels (2019 Q4). Over the same period, GDP in the UK fell by 0.2% and is now 0.4% below pre-pandemic levels.

• Compared to the same quarter last year, Scotland’s GDP grew by 2.9%. Over the same period, the UK grew by 2.4%.

• Read the full report here.

ScotGov Consultation on Restricting Alcohol Advertising & Promotion

• The consultation paper, available here, is wide ranging and covers potential restrictions on all of the major sources of exposure to alcohol advertising and promotion in Scotland, including advertising outdoors, in-store, and through sports and events sponsorship.

• It is possible to respond to the consultation via Citizen Space using the following link: Alcohol Advertising & Promotion portal. Contact the Alcohol Harm Prevention team at: alcoholmarketing@gov.scot

• Deadline: Thursday 9th March 2023

• For more details about the proposed measures and consultation, click here to see a two-page SGF Consultation Summery.  

Scottish Government publish analysis on the Circular Economy Bill Consultation

• A report of the analysis of responses to the consultation on proposed provisions for a Circular Economy Bill is available at: Consultation Analysis Report.

Review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS)  

• A HM Treasury-led review of the EBRS will determine support for non-domestic energy consumers, excluding public sector organisations, beyond 31 March 2023. The government has published terms of reference for the review, with the findings to be published by 31 December 2022.

• Scottish Government will receive around an additional £1.5 billion of additional funding over 2023-24 and 2024-25 as a result of tax and spending policy decisions including the business rate relief today’s statement sets out in England.

Waste Treatment Options Explored in New Report from Zero Waste Scotland

• A new report from Zero Waste Scotland finds ‘Biostabilising’ of organic waste in Scotland could produce less carbon than either landfilling or incinerating it, however, current operational challenges in collection and processing limit the potential of this technology.

• Scotland has passed a law to ban all biodegradeable waste going to landfill by 31 December 2025. The Biodegradeable Municipal Waste Landfill Ban will allow a specific level of treated waste to be legally landfilled under the ban.

• Follow the links to view the full report and associated press release.  

Health and Safety Executive Weekly Digest ebulletin

• To view the full bulletin, go to: HSE Weekly Update

• This week's edition features: 

• guidance on working safely in cold and wintry weather

• advice on minimising the risk of manual handling injuries

HMRC Employer Bulletin – December 2022

• The December edition of the Employer Bulletin Employer Bulletin brings you all the latest HMRC updates and guidance to support employers, payroll professionals and agents.

• Included in this edition are important updates on:

• the reduction in the rate of National Insurance contributions from 6 November 2022 – updated guidance

• payrolling expenses and benefits for the 2023 to 2024 tax year

• Plastic Packaging Tax – check if your business needs to register

• the changes to company car tax rates from April 2025

Scottish Assessors 2023 Valuation Roll

• The Draft 2023 Valuation Roll is available at the Scottish Assessors Portal. Scottish Assessors – Scottish Assessors Association website (saa.gov.uk)

Online guidance on accessing support for Cost of Living

• The Scottish Government has launched a new website hosting a range of information on support, grants, benefits and advice, in order to help people find the support they may be entitled to.

• SGF members and colleagues may be eligible for a range of Cost of Living support, including in the following areas: Visit gov.scot/costoflivingsupport for more details.

Training Videos to Help Shop Workers – Your Safety First

• For information on retail crime and keeping your staff and business safe, please see this useful series of videos from the Police Business Resilience Team at: Protect

Deposit Return Scheme Retailers Toolkit

• Click here to view an industry guidebook on DRS produced by Circularity Scotland.  

 
Resource Management Association Scotland (RMAS)

• Please follow the links to view the weekly briefing note and the monthly Market Trends Report from RMAS.