Scotland’s DRS gets cool approach in Westminster

For the Scottish system to come into force in August this year, approval is needed under the UK Internal Market Act 2020.

The UK government has said a request for approval from the Scottish government only came recently and last week Scottish MP Deidre Brock (SNP) raised the topic in the House of Commons.

October

Ms Brock claimed the topic had been under discussion since October 2021 with a formal request made on February 13 this year.

She said that accordingly the Secretary of State for Scotland – Alister Jack – had erred in what he said and should apologise to Parliament. Mr Jack responded saying that while there had been civil servant talks, the official request had only come on the 6 March.

And, the Secretary of State then proceeded to raise concerns about the scheme, likening the Scottish Government’s approach to building a house without planning permission.

Concerned

Mr Jack told the House of Commons: “I would also say that the Scottish Government proceeded with a deposit return scheme that small businesses, consumers and others are very concerned about. Even the chief executive of Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, said yesterday that it is not the right scheme and it is not fit for purpose. They are concerned about it and they are right to be concerned about it. The Scottish Government asked for their UKIM exemption after they put their scheme together. If I were building a house, I would get planning permission and then build my house, not do it the other way around.”

Tesco

And, Mr Jack also referenced Tesco and Coca Cola.

He said: “But I agree with the chief executive of Tesco, Britain’s largest retailer, when he says that this is not the right scheme—it will be inflationary. As I have said before at this Dispatch Box, 12 bottles of Scottish water currently cost £1.59 in Aldi, but under the scheme, that would become £3.99 or even higher if a price is put on top. Although £2.40 of that could be reclaimed, the consumer will also pay an extra cost that is put on by the producer—producers have been clear about that.”

The Secretary of State added: “We met Coca-Cola, which said that 2p on a can and 5p on a bottle would be passed on to the consumer and could not be reclaimed.”