Lorna Slater dodges question six times on DRS

Following the ministerial statement by Lorna Slater where 6 times in direct questions she refused to admit that just 664 out of 4,500 producers in Scotland have signed up to the Deposit Return Scheme, Scottish Liberal Democrat climate emergency spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:  

“After a torrid few weeks, it takes a certain brass neck for the minister to come out blaming everyone else, including MSPs across parties and companies across Scotland who have been raising legitimate concerns.  

“I was contacted by two producers in Orkney last night: one desperately seeking advice on what to do; the other making clear they would not be registering.  

“Now it seems the minister is hell bent on pushing dodgy statistics. She talks about 90% signing up to her scheme, but this is made up predominantly by the largest producers. Overall, around 84% of producers have not registered, representing small brewers, distillers and other businesses the length and breadth of the country.

“At a time when businesses and the public need reassurance, the minister offered nothing but bluster, assertion and dodgy figures”.