Meeting of the Parliament 18 June 2025
I thank the member for the further opportunity to discuss the draft deposit return scheme designation order. To Mr Carlaw, I point out that I have been preparing to answer this question on behalf of my colleague, Ms Martin—who is on Government business elsewhere—in a quieter spot than the noise of the Opposition front benches.
This instrument, if approved, will confirm UK Deposit Management Organisation Ltd—UK DMO Ltd—as the scheme administrator for Scotland’s DRS and set out its obligations and functions. As an industry-led scheme, the operation, design and delivery of Scotland’s DRS is the responsibility of a scheme administrator. This order provides the scheme administrator with the powers needed to make decisions about how the scheme should run, such as to set the level of the deposit and operate an effective return point network. It also places requirements on the scheme administrator to meet the scheme’s targets, to act on behalf of industry and to protect consumers.
Organisations were invited to apply to be the DRS’s administrator in Scotland; we received a single, industry-backed application from UK DMO Ltd. Following assessment of that application, Scottish ministers have put forward UK DMO Ltd as the scheme administrator for Scotland, and it is named as such in the order. The same organisation has been appointed as the scheme administrator in England and Northern Ireland, ensuring that there is a consistent approach to delivery across the three nations.
UK DMO Ltd is a private company made up of member organisations from across industry. I am pleased that it has wasted no time in preparing for the role. It has written to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee to express strong support for the scheme, outline the work that it is already undertaking to prepare for the scheme’s implementation, and emphasise its commitment to implementing a DRS that works for everyone, from the largest producers to the smallest shops in island communities.
This order will enable an industry-led DRS in Scotland and ensure consistent delivery of DRS across Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. I urge members to approve the instrument.