Nearly five months after a crippling cyber attack, the Scottish Government’s environment watchdog is still struggling to process thousands of pollution permits, planning applications and waste licences. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has not been able receive air and water pollution returns from companies, handle reservoir and other registrations, nor provide information on the past state of Scotland’s rivers. The agency has admitted its systems have been “badly affected” and there “may be a risk” to the environment if it fails to quickly restore services. Sepa’s former boss labelled the attack “disastrous” and warned that Sepa’s reputation had been “dealt a serious blow”.