Scotland’s deposit return scheme: Minister avoids questions over compensation for companies if mission is scrapped

The minister who oversees Scotland’s controversial deposit return scheme has averted questions over compensation to companies if it fails to come back to fruition.

Lorna Slater, the minister for inexperienced abilities, round financial system and biodiversity, was quizzed on the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.

Responding to Scottish Tory deputy chief Meghan Gallacher, Ms Slater, who can also be co-leader of the Scottish Greens, mentioned: “We are committed to our deposit return scheme, which is critical to reducing litter, tackling emissions and increasing recycling.”

She added: “The missing piece of the jigsaw is for the UK government to agree an exclusion from the Internal Market Act.”

The controversial scheme was attributable to begin in August however was pushed again to March 2024 after Humza Yousaf was installed as first minister.

The scheme will see buyers north of the border pay an additional 20p when buying drinks in a can or a bottle, with this residue then returned when the empty container is introduced again for recycling.

Industry figures have argued it can impose probably deadly prices on their companies and create a commerce barrier between Scotland and the remainder of the UK. But environmental campaigners say it can lower carbon emissions and scale back litter.

The Scottish authorities is in search of an exemption from the UK authorities for the scheme in Scotland underneath the Internal Market Act – which regulates commerce within the completely different components of the UK following Brexit.

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The exemption is required because the scheme in Scotland is because of start forward of comparable initiatives in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ms Slater earlier warned that if no exemption is secured by the top of May, the Scottish authorities can be pressured to make a “proactive decision” as as to if its scheme is “viable”.

Ms Slater, Scottish Greens MSP for Lothian, mentioned: “The UK government needs to now do the right thing and agree an exclusion now to give businesses the certainty they need in order to prepare for the launch in March, and allow investment made by businesses to be put to good use.”

On Monday, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack flatly rejected a suggestion from Mr Yousaf for the UK authorities to choose up the invoice if the scheme can’t go forward as deliberate.

He instructed MPs on the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee that he had but to obtain the “proper impact assessments” beforehand requested for from Holyrood ministers that will enable a call to be taken on whether or not the scheme needs to be exempt from the UK Internal Market Act.

Ms Slater rejected Mr Jack’s declare.

She mentioned: “Simply it is not true that the information required under the common framework has not been shared.”

The minister added: “We have supplied all the required information – and more – to agree an exclusion from the Internal Market Act.”

Ms Slater highlighted that the Scottish authorities had obtained correspondence from Michael Gove, secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, on Tuesday which thanked Holyrood for its up to date evaluation and confirmed the UK authorities “is currently processing and reviewing that information”.

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In response to criticism from MSP Willie Rennie that she “needs to go back to the drawing board” and “come up with a new scheme”, Ms Slater mentioned: “Industry have invested hundreds of millions of pounds toward this scheme.

“They have recruited individuals, there are IT techniques underneath method, reverse merchandising machines are being put in, sorting centres are being arrange, the autos and logistics are being arrange.

“We are all systems go. We just need that last little piece of the Internal Market Act exemption and we will carry on with the launch.”

When once more quizzed by SNP MSP Fergus Ewing and Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr, Ms Slater mentioned the query of compensation was a “hypothetical one at this point”.

She mentioned: “I am working towards getting this scheme launched and making sure that the scheme is a success.”