Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Meeting date: Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Official Report 1168KB pdf

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Parliamentary Bureau Motions

The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-03303, on the approval of a Scottish statutory instrument. I ask George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move the motion.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees that the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Amendment Regulations 2022 [draft] be approved.—[George Adam]

17:19  

With this Scottish statutory instrument, which sets a new launch date for the deposit return scheme, the Scottish National Party and the Greens are asking industry to risk their reputations. The secrecy and uncertainty around deposit return mean that no one can take the Scottish Government seriously.

The latest delay was announced back in December but, prior to that, Circularity Scotland may have released tender documents indicating a 2023 launch. The Scottish Government has not denied that the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity was aware of such documents, and I believe that the Parliament and the public have a right to know whether the minister was aware of a possible 2023 launch date a month or more before announcing it. Did the minister mislead the Parliament?

There must be transparency and trust for deposit return to work. The Government needs to provide answers. Why is the SNP-Green Government going for an old-fashioned 1990s-style system, with reverse vending machines, instead of a modern 21st century fully digital scheme?

Does Maurice Golden agree that the Government’s mishandling of the situation has managed to unite those who previously supported the scheme and those who were against it? The Marine Conservation Society originally championed the scheme and now asks us to vote it down. It told us to ask the Scottish Government to lay new regulations that include strict fiduciary measures to ensure that proposed milestones and implementation dates are met and that no more taxpayers’ money is wasted. It is a disgrace that the Government’s mishandling of the issue has caused the Marine Conservation Society to change its position. Does the member agree?

I agree that it is a shambles that we are in a situation in which the deposit return scheme, which was agreed by the Parliament in 2011 and could easily have been delivered within a decade, is still not delivered. It is so bad, that technology has moved on. The scheme would be akin to providing every person in Scotland with a DVD and a DVD player two years before Netflix came out.

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) rose—

I will happily give way if the Presiding Officer is content that I have the time.

If the member wants a deposit return scheme to be delivered faster, why did he and his party vote against it several years ago? Why did he vote for a delay in the introduction of the deposit return scheme back then? Why has he changed his position?

I have never changed my position, but I want my questions to be answered, so I will list them.

Why will the Government not at least guarantee that the reverse vending machines will be built in Scotland? Is every business that will be affected by DRS fully aware of the implications for their business? Are banks concerned about funding the scheme, which would mean that Scottish Government funds may be required?

Are companies refusing to bid for Circularity Scotland contracts because of “reputational risk”? Did Circularity Scotland award a contract to PwC for £650,000 for producing recommendations only on a return handling fee, and was that due to be delivered by Eunomia consultancy for tens of thousands of pounds less?

Has the deadline for work on a producer registration system, which was due to be delivered in January this year, been missed? Will the vast majority of materials collected in the scheme be exported to England and other markets abroad? Why is there no remelt target to improve glass recycling?

Is the Scottish Government happy that there will be local authority job losses in waste management departments as a result of DRS?

We can deliver the current scheme, or delay and deliver a truly ambitious scheme. The Scottish Government is offering the worst of all worlds. I urge any member who believes in tackling climate change and has a commitment to transparency and the public sector to vote against the regulations.

17:24  

Our deposit return scheme will increase recycling, cut litter and help us to meet Scotland’s climate targets.

The regulations before us will make a number of changes that are essential to ensuring that Scotland’s deposit return scheme is a success. They set out a new date for full implementation, from 16 August 2023, recognising the significant impact that Covid and European Union exit has had on the businesses responsible for delivering DRS.

Additionally, the regulations make a number of small but important changes. They provide reassurance to online retailers providing a take-back service, clarify the treatment of products such as crowlers, help to prevent fraud and support the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to enforce compliance.

Will the minister take an intervention?

No, I will not.

One thing that the regulations do not change is the original ambitious scheme target of 80 per cent in 2024 and 90 per cent in 2025. By passing the regulations, members will allow Circularity Scotland and the wider industry to get on with the business of implementing the scheme, which is essential for the protection of our environment.

I ask members to support the regulations, vote for the motion and help to deliver Scotland’s deposit return scheme.

The next item of business is consideration of five Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move motions S6M-03302, S6M-03304 and S6M-03305, on the approval of Scottish statutory instruments, S6M-03306, on committee meeting times, and S6M-03307, on designation of a lead committee.

Motions moved,

That the Parliament agrees that the Climate Change (Nitrogen Balance Sheet) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2022 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Maximum Number of Judges (Scotland) Order 2022 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the Finance and Public Administration Committee be given permission to meet at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament between 1.30 pm and 3.45 pm on Thursday 24 February 2022.

That the Parliament agrees that the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Foreign Nationals) Bill at stage 1.—[George Adam]

The question on the motions will be put at decision time.