Hansard

I confirm that Scottish Labour will support this SSI today, out of necessity. However, I want to speak to it, given the unusual circumstances that we are in. The Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity admitted to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee that “further regulations” will need to be laid after the summer recess to—again—delay the date on which the deposit return scheme goes live in Scotland. We do not need to have another debate on how we got here—we have had plenty of discussion on that point.

However, I raise the point that, at this moment, MSPs and, more importantly, producers, companies and the industry are still waiting to find out what the next steps will be, despite the hundreds of millions of pounds that has been invested. I was told that the minister was due to meet MSPs from all parties to discuss the DRS, but the minister cancelled that meeting.

I am very keen for us to hear what happens next and what on-going discussions are taking place, because we do not know what action the Scottish Government is now taking, what policy position it has or what it wants to see the United Kingdom Government do around the roll-out of the UK-wide scheme, which we understand is some time off. There has always been a policy position of finding alignment where possible, but we need to know the position so that Parliament has an opportunity to help to shape that alignment.

As I said at the beginning, we will support the SSI out of necessity. It would, however, be helpful to get an assurance from the Government today that the minister in charge of the deposit return scheme will set out the next steps and inform Parliament of its view on UK-wide implementation. What opportunities did the minister, Lorna Slater, take to work with other devolved Governments and the UK Government to design a UK-wide deposit return scheme that works for us, in Scotland, and for other parts of the UK?

It would be helpful if the minister would agree to meet Opposition spokespeople, as that would be a way for us to keep involved on a cross-party basis and know what is happening with next steps in the scheme.