SNP backbenchers are being urged to “prevent Armageddon” by voting for a Scottish Conservative motion to pause the introduction of the much-criticised Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) pending an independent review.
The party will use an opposition business slot in parliament tomorrow (Wed) to debate the Scottish Government’s DRS, which businesses are warning will have a catastrophic impact if it goes ahead in its current form, as planned, in August.
MSP Maurice Golden, convener of the Cross-Party Group on the Circular Economy, believes that an effective and workable scheme will make a real contribution to the circular economy.
But he will highlight that the SNP-Green Government ignored models from other countries, the concerns of businesses, and the need to make it workable within the UK to avoid crippling Scottish firms with additional costs and burdens.
Businesses have warned that, as constituted, it would impose potentially fatal costs on them, which would have to be passed on to customers. There are also potential legal obstacles – including the possibility it could create an unlawful trade barrier with the rest of the UK.
The Scottish Government’s own review of DRS in December concluded that a fully functioning and compliant scheme could not be introduced by the deadline, but Lorna Slater, the Green minister in charge, “ploughed on regardless”.
Maurice Golden MSP said: “With the battle to succeed Nicola Sturgeon under way, now is the perfect time for SNP backbenchers to do the right thing and send a clear message to the leadership contenders that the shambolic Deposit Return Scheme is not fit for purpose.
“The warnings from firms across Scotland could not be more stark – this could force them out of business.
“MSPs from all parties – but especially the SNP – have the chance to prevent Armageddon by supporting our motion for the scheme to be paused pending an independent review. If SNP backbenchers support it, we have the votes to do just that.
“Businesses are terrified, and understandably so. The current plans would make many firms unviable and cost thousands of jobs, as well as removing choice from consumers and driving up prices during a cost-of-living crisis.
“Despite being years in the planning, we now have six months to go and a policy that is totally ill-equipped, poorly planned and will end up causing more harm than good. Yet Lorna Slater ploughed on regardless.
“There is still no clarity on how much of it will work. Business and waste management experts called for at least 18 months’ notice prior to the scheme’s launch, but with less than six months to go, many details are still not forthcoming.
“It must be paused immediately. A successful Deposit Return Scheme could have a positive impact on business and the environment. But, as it stands, this one is assisting neither.”
Notes:
A leading lawyer has warned that the SNP-Green Government Deposit Return Scheme could create an unlawful trade barrier with the rest of the UK. Aidan O’Neill KC said there were ‘well-founded’ concerns that the SNP-Green Deposit Return Scheme would create a trade barrier between Scotland and England as it would require different prices to be charged for the same product on each side of the border. He suggested it could contravene the UK Internal Market Act 2020. (BBC News, 9 February 2023, link).
The SNP-Green Deposit Return Scheme cannot be delivered by the August 2023 launch date. The Gateway Review states that ‘that a fully functioning and compliant DRS cannot be in operation for the revised August 2023 schedule.’ It further adds that that a ‘softer’ approach to DRS implementation should be pursued but that further urgent activity would be required to consider, assess, and agree this possibility. (Scottish Government, 14 December 2022, link).
The SNP-Green Deposit Return Scheme is already being legally challenged by a convenience store owner in the Court of Session. Backed by the Scottish Grocer’s Federation, Abdul Majid MBE, will see the Judicial Review petition he raised against Circularity Scotland Limited (CSL) – the body responsible for administering the Deposit Return Scheme – go ahead in the Court of Session. Mr Majid is challenging the legality of the retailer handling fees which CSL are seeking to impose on retailers. (Talking Retail, 3 January 2023, link).