The SNP has today called on the
Prime Minister to sack , after the Scottish Secretary
“blatantly misled” the Westminster Parliament about efforts from
the Scottish Government to implement the Deposit Return
Scheme.
On 22nd February, Mr Jack told
the House of Commons that “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?”
However, documents released by
the Scottish Government clearly disprove that claim and
demonstrate that initial discussions about the need for an
exclusion go as far back as 2021 – and in January, the Deputy
First Minister wrote to the UK Government to signal his alarm at
the lack of progress on this issue.
Commenting, SNP MSP
said:
“Alister Jack has deliberately
misled the Westminster parliament and as such the Prime Minister
has no option but to sack him.
“Contrary to his claim in the
House of Commons that no exemption has been sought for the DRS,
documents released by the Scottish Government yesterday show that
initial discussions began in 2021, were stepped up in 2022 – and
in January the Deputy First Minister was forced to write to the
UK Government expressing his alarm at the lack of
progress.
“The Deposit Return Scheme is a
key environmental measure that will make a step change in helping
to keep Scotland beautiful and meet our climate change targets.
It is a policy that clearly falls within devolved competence and
has been backed overwhelmingly by
MSPs.
“As the supposed representative
of Scotland in the UK Government, should be going out of his
way to enable the smooth running of devolution, but instead he
seems to be doing everything he can to sabotage it – and is now
telling blatant untruths to cover his lack of
action.
“There is no justification for
the UK Government blocking this policy, which is why has had to resort to making
things up.”
“When he took office, the Prime
Minister pledged that he would lead a government with “integrity,
professionalism and accountability at every level” – if he does
not sack , he will be failing on all
three counts.”
ENDS
Notes to
editors:
Timeline and process for securing
an Internal Market Act exemption for DRS
