Extracts from Scottish Parliament proceedings: Deposit Return Scheme - Jun 1

Extract from General Questions: Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure Support (South Scotland)

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it plans to provide to tourism, hospitality and leisure operators in the South Scotland region. (S6O-02319)

The Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade (Richard Lochhead)

The Scottish Government recognises that the tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors are a crucial part of the South Scotland economy. Those sectors create jobs, sustain communities and contribute significantly to the wellbeing of southern Scotland, often forming the cornerstone of the local economy and enabling visitors and residents alike to experience the incredible offers that we have across the whole region.

We are supporting, with a £2.7 million five-year funding package, the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, which is an industry-led leadership group that is driving the region’s tourism, marketing and destination development. We are also working with a diverse range of businesses throughout the region. As well as our work with large projects, including our £2.6 million investment in the £18 million sustainable development in Forest Holiday cabins at Glentress forest in the Tweed valley, we are working with different accommodation and attractions in the region, from glamping to museums and visitor facilities.

Craig Hoy

I thank the minister for that answer, but all that he has said overlooks the fact that, as he is well aware, many operators face far higher business rates as a result of his Government’s failure to pass on the 75 per cent rates relief that has been made available in England. Pubs and cafes face enormous pressures, including from the shambolic Deposit return scheme, while tourism operators face the burden of the Scottish National Party’s short-term lets regulations. Is it not the case that the SNP lacks not only a dedicated minister for tourism but any credible policy to support that vital sector in the south of Scotland?

Richard Lochhead

As the minister with responsibility for tourism and hospitality, I want to say how much I enjoyed my recent visit to Glentress to meet the company that is investing millions of pounds into that region. It is great to see that the product that is being developed in the member’s region is attracting so much investment and will attract visitors from around the world. Although I recognise that the Scottish Government has a role to play in that regard, a sub-group relating to the new business deal will look at business rates and other issues.

The issues that tourism businesses in the south of Scotland and elsewhere raise with me are high energy costs, the need to cut VAT, the impact of high inflation and the impact of Brexit on labour shortages, all of which are the responsibility of the member’s party in the United Kingdom Government—the Conservative Party. Therefore, he might likewise wish to make strong representations to it.

Questions to the First Minister

The First Minister (Humza Yousaf): I go back to what I said in my first answer. Time and again, Douglas Ross will demand that we do more to tackle the climate emergency, but whether we are talking about the Deposit return scheme, the workplace parking levy or LEZs, he will oppose it. Why will he oppose it? He will do so, of course, not because of any principled stance in relation to the climate emergency; he opposes such measures simply because the SNP has proposed them, and that is not good enough...

...It is undeniable that, every time the SNP Government brings forward action to tackle the biggest threat that our planet faces, Douglas Ross and the Conservatives oppose that time and again. They opposed the workplace parking levy and oppose the DRS, even though that was in the manifesto that they stood on. Douglas Ross stood on a manifesto that included a Deposit return scheme but now opposes it...

Protecting Scotland’s Environment

3. Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)

To ask the First Minister what priority the Scottish Government gives to protecting Scotland’s environment. (S6F-02180)

The First Minister (Humza Yousaf)

Scotland’s natural environment is central to our identity as a nation. It is fundamental to our health, our quality of life and our economy. This year, we are investing nearly £1 billion in our natural environment. We remain committed to working with our partners in the Green group on the priorities for net zero and for nature that are set out clearly in the Bute house agreement. I and my Government are fully committed to protecting and enhancing Scotland’s environment.

However, progress depends on our being able to use the powers that are fully devolved to the Parliament. Just this week, we have seen the United Kingdom Government’s determination to ride roughshod over a measure to improve recycling and dramatically reduce litter by seeking to sabotage regulations that this Parliament passed on bottle and can recycling. That is simply unacceptable.

Ariane Burgess

Handing on a clean and nature-rich environment to future generations is one of the biggest responsibilities of Government, so it is astonishing to hear that the UK Government is, on a whim, undermining our Parliament’s effort to reduce litter and improve recycling by aiming to sabotage Scotland’s Deposit return scheme. Given that the Tory UK Government was elected on a manifesto commitment to have a scheme that included glass, and given that Labour in Wales has joined Scotland in our shared commitment to a scheme with glass, does the First Minister believe that all members should listen to the evidence, listen to their own promises and colleagues, and let Scotland get on with the job for which the Parliament voted?

The First Minister

Ariane Burgess is absolutely right to highlight what can only be described as the shameful hypocrisy of the Conservatives on this matter. Rishi Sunak, Alister Jack and Douglas Ross stood on a manifesto that promised a Deposit return scheme that included glass. Maurice Golden told us:

“If you are going to do something, do it properly ... include glass.”

The Tory Government has U-turned on its promises and is going contrary to the evidence of what will help us to tackle the climate emergency, increase recycling rates and remove that litter—the glass that can be hazardous to children and pets—from our streets, parks and beaches.

It does not stop at the Tories. Labour in Wales shares Scotland’s anger about the treatment of devolved Parliaments and shares our ambition to have glass included.

There was a time when Labour in Scotland stood up for the Scottish Parliament’s right to make our own choices. I shudder to think what greats such as John Smith and Donald Dewar—those architects of devolution—would think about Scottish Labour’s complete and utter silence over the fact that, time and again, the Conservatives want to undermine devolution.

The Conservatives’ latest action has shown us that the Tories are bad for business in Scotland, bad for the environment and bad for devolution. It is no wonder that they have not won an election here in the past 50 years. I suspect that, if they keep going, they will not win one in the next 50 years.