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Scottish government 'utterly irresponsible' over bottle return scheme, former UK minister tells court
Lord Alister Jack accused the Scottish Government of withholding critical risk information from over 1,000 businesses before delaying the Deposit Return Scheme amid legal and financial challenges.
- On Friday, Lord Alister Jack, former Scottish secretary, told the Court of Session in Edinburgh that the Scottish Government withheld commercial information from businesses and was "utterly irresponsible" over the Deposit Return Scheme.
- The UK government's refusal to exempt glass under the Internal Market Act forced the Scottish Government to change its Deposit Return Scheme plans in 2023, Jack said the exclusion carried a "high bar" requiring impact assessments.
- More than 1,000 businesses warned Jack the scheme would damage their business, and he described officials' handling as 'farcical', claiming a ministerial letter 'misled' firms.
- The scheme's legal and regulatory hurdles have delayed rollout, with Biffa Waste Services suing the Scottish Government at the Court of Session and a UK‑wide DRS not expected soon.
- Jack said officials should have acted "as soon as they knew" to warn partner companies of commercial risks and rejected claims his concerns were politically motivated amid the cost‑of‑living crisis.
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Scottish Government ‘utterly irresponsible’ over deposit scheme – Alister Jack
Giving evidence in the afternoon former circular economy minister Lorna Slater denied trying to ‘persuade’ Biffa to sign up to the scheme.
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources10
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 38%
C 50%
12%
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