Moray MP Douglas Ross has urged the SNP-Green government to listen to the “widespread concerns” of businesses across his constituency who are calling for a halt to a deposit return scheme being introduced.
Douglas has highlighted the concerns of Lossiemouth-based independent brewery Windswept Brewing which appeared in last weeks Northern Scot with managing director Nigel Tiddy calling for an 18 month pause to the scheme.
Douglas says Green minister Lorna Slater cannot continue to “plough ahead” with the scheme with businesses remaining in the dark over what it will mean for them in practice.
He highlighted her “astonishing” interview on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show where Lorna Slater said that she was “actively considering” a grace period for small producers - despite the deadline to sign up to the scheme being only 24 hours away.
The Green minister also failed to define what constitutes a small producer.
Douglas says it is “terrifying” that businesses in Moray are being asked to sign up “blind” to this scheme, which many feel could severely impact their business or cease them trading altogether.
The Scottish Conservatives have requested an emergency statement on the scheme in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday) and also brought forward a motion last week causing for a pause to the scheme.
Douglas criticised Moray’s SNP MSP Richard Lochhead for voting against that motion and continuing to follow party lines, rather than standing up for businesses in his constituency.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “Businesses in Moray are raising serious and widespread concerns about the SNP-Green government’s deposit return scheme, which has rapidly unravelled.
“Everyone wants this scheme to work and improve our recycling rates and ensure that there is far less litter in our communities. However, this scheme is yet another example of SNP-Green ministers failing to address real issues and continuing to plough ahead regardless.
“Businesses are extremely worried about the costs this will impose on them at a time when they are already grappling with rising bills. They have been left completely in the dark by Lorna Slater, the Green minister responsible.
“It is astonishing that she says in one breath that there may be a grace period for small producers like Windswept Brewing who voiced their concerns last week - yet in another breath she still demands they sign up to the scheme by Tuesday’s deadline.
“That is a terrifying prospect for businesses in Moray. They cannot blindly sign up to a scheme without having had all the information given to them by Lorna Slater.
“The Scottish Conservatives have always supported the principles of a deposit return scheme, but this current one is simply unworkable in its current guise.
“We asked for a pause to the scheme in Parliament last week but shamefully SNP and Green MSPs continued to vote along party lines- with the one exception of Fergus Ewing.
“Much like the A9, the deposit return scheme is another issue where Moray’s SNP MSP Richard Lochhead could have taken a leaf out of Fergus Ewing’s book and stood up for businesses in Moray. Yet he put party interests before recognising the concerns they have over the scheme.
“The costs of this scheme will simply be unsustainable for businesses across Scotland and that will be particularly prevalent in rural and remote businesses in Moray. Lorna Slater and the Scottish Government must act now and pause it.”