Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Deposit Return Scheme: UK Internal Market Act

Monday 5 June 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Patrick Grady questioned the Secretary of State about discussions with Cabinet colleagues and the Scottish Government on an opt-out under the UK Internal Market Act 2020 for Scotland's deposit return scheme.
  • The Secretary of State emphasized the need for a deposit return scheme that functions uniformly across the United Kingdom.
  • The Secretary of State noted that internal criticism of the Scottish Government's approach has come from within the Scottish Parliament and within the SNP itself.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patrick Grady SNP
Scotland
Context

The UKIM Act allows for opt-outs in certain circumstances. The Scottish Government is considering an opt-out for their deposit return scheme.

Question

Whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues and the Scottish Government on an opt-out under the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 for the Scottish Government's deposit return scheme.

Answer from Michael Gove

I am tempted to reply that if I ask the question, “How many SNP MPs does it take to change a lightbulb?” the answer is, inevitably, “Well, we have to wait for the motorhome to arrive.” On the central question, we want a deposit return scheme that works across the United Kingdom. The strongest critics of the Scottish Government's approach have been within the Scottish Parliament and within the hon. Gentleman's own party.

Not addressed: Specific discussion or agreement on opt-out

How: Changing The Subject, Joking

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Q2 Patrick Grady SNP
Scotland
Context

The Scottish Government plans to introduce a deposit return scheme, but it faces opposition from businesses and other parties due to interoperability issues.

Question

I am reminded of the old adage that had the Scottish National party invented the lightbulb, the Secretary of State would call it a dangerous anti-candle conspiracy. The reality is that in 1997, his party's manifesto opposed devolution. It said it would 'create strains which could well pull apart the Union' and 'would risk rivalry and conflict between these parliaments and assemblies and the parliament at Westminster.' His 2019 manifesto committed to a 'deposit return scheme to incentivise people to recycle plastic and glass.' Why is he working so hard to fulfil the vision of 1997, and not his commitment of 2019?

Answer from Michael Gove

On the central question, we want a deposit return scheme that works across the United Kingdom. The strongest critics of the Scottish Government's approach have been within the Scottish Parliament and within the hon. Gentleman's own party.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific reasons for opposing 2019 commitment

How: Changing The Subject

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Q3 Chris Stephens SNP
Scotland Environment
Context

The Conservative party manifesto of 2019 committed to a deposit return scheme, but now they are opposing similar schemes in Scotland and Wales.

Question

Let us quote from the 2019 Conservative party manifesto—in this job, reading fiction is a necessary evil. It says: “We will crack down on the waste and carelessness that destroys our natural environment and kills marine life…and introduce a deposit return scheme to incentivise people to recycle plastic and glass.” The Conservatives even put it in bold to show how serious they were. Other than a decision to oppose and undermine devolved Parliaments and Governments, what has changed from the manifesto, or are the UK Government simply bottling it?

Answer from Michael Gove

The businesses with which the Scottish Government have been interacting have been uniform, loud and clear in their determination to ensure that the scheme works interoperably across the whole United Kingdom. We have been very clear that an exclusion can be granted, but only if the Scottish Government work to ensure a scheme that works for all the citizens of the UK and all the businesses of Scotland.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Concrete changes from 2019 manifesto commitment

How: Changing The Subject

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Q4 Chris Stephens SNP
Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
Context

The Welsh First Minister has been contacted to make changes to their deposit return scheme, which may affect glass recycling. The UK Government's previous consultation with the Northern Ireland Executive on this issue is being reneged upon.

Question

The First Minister of Wales has now been contacted by the UK Government to make changes to the Welsh DRS scheme to remove glass, which reneges on what was previously agreed in the UK Government's consultation with the Northern Ireland Executive. The Welsh First Minister's own words are: 'The English Government is the outlier here.' Surely, instead of walking on broken glass, they could simply recycle it?

Answer from Michael Gove

We stand ready to help—to rescue the Scottish Government from their own folly—but that relies on the Scottish Government doing something that they have been singularly reluctant to do: to take a small slice of humble pie and acknowledge that in this area, they have got things wrong.

Not addressed: UK Government's position on glass recycling

How: Changing The Subject, Criticizing Scottish Government

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