A Deposit-return Scheme for Drink Containers

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:00 pm on 22 June 2021.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:00, 22 June 2021

I thank the Member very much for that question and for highlighting the pilot that is going on in around 500 homes in her own constituency, which is going to make a genuine contribution to our understanding of how a DRS could be taken forward. Ministers always abstain, Llywydd, on backbench legislature; that's the convention that we have. But I'm pleased to be able to say to the Member that we hope to secure powers for a deposit-return scheme for Wales through the UK Environment Bill. The latest information we have is that that is expected to complete its parliamentary passage in time to get Royal Assent in the autumn. We will then have the powers that we need to bring forward our regulations, and we expect to lay those in the autumn as well.