(Caithness, Sutherland and
Easter Ross) (LD): The Secretary of State has Bladnoch
distillery in his constituency, and I have Glenmorangie,
Clynelish and Old Pulteney in mine. Is it not crazy that the
proposed ban on advertising is going to damage distilleries in
our constituencies and, more importantly, could impair employment
in rural parts of Scotland? These are vital local jobs.
The Secretary of State for Scotland ( ): Yes, the hon.
Gentleman is absolutely right. This is just another example of
how anti-business this Scottish Government are—the SNP and its
coalition partners, the Greens. The Deposit
return scheme that is coming down the tracks is
just another example of how anti-business they are.
(Blaydon) (Lab): The
Scottish Government’s delayed and botched Deposit
return scheme has turned into total chaos:
businesses want to redesign it to make it work; the public do not
know about it; and MSPs want it delayed again. The scheme has
been a shambles from day one, with a former SNP Minister
describing it as “the Titanic heading for an iceberg”. Does the
Minister agree that this process needs urgent reform, and will he
encourage his Cabinet colleagues to make sure that any UK-wide
scheme learns from the pitfalls of the Scottish Government
process?
Mr Jack: Yes. I have had legitimate concerns raised with me
by businesses across Scotland and by stakeholder groups and I
have urged the Scottish Government to pause the scheme. There is
no doubt in my mind that the scheme is not just bad for
businesses, but bad for stakeholders and consumers. Anecdotally,
Aldi will sell 12 bottles of Scottish water for £1.59. Under this
scheme, that will become £3.99. If that is not inflationary, if
that is not adding to people’s cost of living, I do not know what
is. Furthermore, we have not been asked for an exemption for this
under the rules of the UK Internal Market Act 2020 by the
Scottish Government—no request for an exemption has come. The
exemption bar is very high indeed, otherwise what is the point of
the UKIM?
