All three opposition leaders have raised the deposit return
scheme, just as all three SNP leadership candidates have called for changes to
it.
Ms Sturgeon talked about UK government “colleagues making
life difficult” for Douglas Ross, with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack at the
heart of a row over market rules.
But her own finance secretary has warned of “economic
carnage” should the plans go ahead as they stand, and the health secretary
sitting at her elbow also wants amendments.
With months to go until the scheme goes live, businesses
have already spent hundreds of millions of pounds preparing, and hundreds of
jobs have been contracted.
Many will be furious if plans change – but others will be
furious if they do not.
Once again, Ms Sturgeon may be glad she is heading for the
exit door, and that this will all soon be someone else’s problem.
An avalanche of industry concerns - Alex Cole-Hamilton
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Alex Cole-Hamilton also raises the deposit return scheme and says "government incompetence is undermining the very case for DRS".
The Scottish Lib Dem leader argues this is a moment of "real jeopardy" and adds there is an "avalanche of industrial concerns".
He calls on the first minister to halt the scheme as she has done with the National Care Service.
Sturgeon denies that her government is halting progress to a National Care Service, rather it's to allow the report to be received from the lead Holyrood committee.
The FM pledges her government continues to engage with businesses concerned by the DRS.
Is this really the best the SNP has to offer? - Sarwar
Anas Sarwar jokes that when Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation,
she said the contenders to replace her as FM would show off the “best talent the
SNP has to offer”.
He notes that Ash Regan is backed by Alex Salmond, Kate
Forbes is backed by Jacob Rees-Mogg and Humza Yousaf is backed by SNP chief executive
Peter Murrell.
At a time of “national crisis”, he asks “is this really the
best the SNP has to offer?”
Nicola Sturgeon says if she was in the shoes of Anas Sarwar
or Douglas Ross, she would be more worried that “the only political game in
town” is the SNP and that the other parties are “lagging so far behind”.
The people of Scotland “continue to put their trust in us”,
says the FM, citing record high rates of employment and record lows of
unemployment among other achievements.
Whoever succeeds her is going to continue her record of
success “for a long time” she adds, as “we complete the journey to Scotland becoming
an independent country”.
BACKGROUND: New national care service law to be delayed
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Concerns have been raised that the new service could cost far more than originally estimatedImage caption: Concerns have been raised that the new service could cost far more than originally estimated
The law to pave the way for a new national care service in Scotland is to be delayed until after the SNP leadership contest.
The legislation was expected to be debated and voted on at Holyrood for this first time this month.
But BBC understands the Scottish government has decided to put it off until June.
The three candidates in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon have all said they want to revisit the current plans.
Choice of SNP leadership candidates is woeful - Sarwar
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Mr Sarwar says the choice of SNP leadership candidates to be next first minister is “woeful”.
Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan are “falling over each
other to distance themselves from their own government’s policies”, he says, citing “U-turns”
on the DRS scheme and “wanting to hit the brakes” on a proposed National Care
Service.
Which one of the three, with hindsight, does the FM regret
appointing the most, asks the Scottish Labour leader.
Nicola Sturgeon says she is proud of all the governments she
has led and those who have served in them.
She said when announcing her decision to step down that she
would not express a preference for her successor, and Mr Sarwar will “not entice
her” to do so either.
Ultimately, her government will be judged by the people of Scotland,
Ms Sturgeon adds, pointing out that on no fewer than eight occasions that has
produced “eight landslide victories”.
'Why is it that all people see is a divided government in chaos?'
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar addresses the cost of living
crisis, NHS crisis and a wider economic crisis “made worse” by the “chaotic
and flawed” deposit return scheme.
Amid an SNP leadership contest where the candidates are “more
interested in scoring political points against each other”, he asks the FM “why
is it that all people see is a divided government in chaos?”
Nicola Sturgeon says she has lost count of the number of Conservative
and Labour leadership elections during her time as first minister.
She says the public will welcome a “robust debate” about the
country’s future.
One of the things she is most proud of as FM is the “game-changing”
Scottish Child Payment, which she says has been “transformational” for children
and families across the country.
She is confident that whoever succeeds her will “continue with
that record of success”.
Douglas Ross was caught using an expletive on mic when the
session was interrupted by a protestor.
Perhaps that sums up the rather irate nature of the
exchanges over the deposit return scheme.
It’s all turning out a bit like the annual rows over the
budget – there are figures for everyone to hang arguments on.
The Tories want to talk about the number of firms signed up;
Ms Sturgeon has come up with a reduced figure from the original Circularity
Scotland estimate, but it would still mean less than half of producers have
registered.
And she is also far more keen to talk about the percentage
of the market covered.
Circularity Scotland will be keen to get both figures
up to scratch, but will be wary of further changes coming down the road as this
business-led scheme is increasingly gripped by politics.
Will deposit scheme lead to 'economic carnage'?
The Scottish Tory leader moves on to say Kate Forbes has said the DRS could create "economic carnage", and points out she is also the finance secretary.
The first minister says last week Ross was scared of Humza Yousaf, but this week he's "very scared of Kate Forbes".
Ross returns to the leadership election which he brands an "absolute bin fire" of a contest. He asks if anyone will find Kate Forbes's plans, to hold a referendum three months after a general election, credible.
Sturgeon replies that the SNP is united in favouring Scottish independence and she says the country will increasingly get behind it.
Ross apologises for use of 'industrial language'
Douglas Ross points out Humza Yousaf, Ash Regan and Kate Forbes have all said the deposit return scheme should be delayed.
Shouts from the gallery led to a brief suspension and Douglas Ross, clearly frustrated, was heard on the microphone using what he later described as "industrial language".
Mr Ross apologised to the chamber.
'This is about the environment'
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
The first minister says the vast majority of products are produced by a relatively small number of producers.
She again says more than 90% of the products included in the scheme are included.
Sturgeon insists the purpose and objective is about reducing littering by a third and it will increase recycling rates of single use drinks containers towards 90%.
"This is about the environment."
'When you're in a hole stop digging'
Douglas Ross says: "When you're in a hole stop digging."
The Scottish Conservative leader says Circularity Minister Lorna Slater was unable to answer the question of how many companies have registered.
He repeats that only 664 had done so by the deadline and he calls on the first minister to pause the deposit return scheme.
FM hits back over Deposit Return Scheme
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Nicola Sturgeon says this is "sheer opportunism" by some opposition MSPs.
The first minister accuses some opposition politicians of "distortion" and then says she is referring to Scottish Secretary Alister Jack.
She points out the number of companies in the drinks industry inevitably changes over time.
At the outset of this scheme it was estimated that there were 4,500 companies, however significantly less than that will need to register.
The estimated number of individual producers will be below 2,000.
More important is the share of the market, the percentage of products that is included, she says.
"That is over 90%."
How does the Deposit Return Scheme work?
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Under the initiative every drinks producer selling in Scotland will have to add 20p to products to be sold in the country in a single-use container.
It will be charged to the retailer who will in turn bill the consumer.
In order to recoup this money, people need to take the empty bottles or cans to a reverse vending machine in a supermarket or designated return point.
Most retailers and hospitality businesses that sell drinks to take away are legally required to operate a return point, with a total of 17,000 expected to be required across Scotland.
Deposit Return Scheme 'is an absolute shambles' says Ross
Douglas Ross goes on the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) as we predicted.
The Scottish Conservative leader says: "The scheme is an absolute shambles."
He asks how many businesses have signed up to the scheme.
FMQs gets under way
Nicola Sturgeon is poised in her seat and Douglas Ross gets to his feet to ask the first question, as FMQs begins.
Nicola Sturgeon has tried to keep out of politics since her
resignation announcement, but continually finds herself dragged back in.
She has intervened in recent days by writing to Rishi Sunak
in a bid to push along the deposit return scheme.
The recycling scheme needs a deal between the Scottish and
UK governments to exempt it from internal market rules, but the mood music from
Westminster is that this is unlikely.
And given the temperature has skyrocketed in recent days,
with Lorna Slater accusing Alister Jack of making untrue statements in the
Commons about whether an application has even been made.
Opposition leaders may well raise the question of how many
firms have met a deadline to sign up to the system. The Scottish government
prefers the cheery-looking figures for market volume, while opponents point to
the rather lower overall number of firms who have registered.
All three candidates to replace Ms Sturgeon have suggested
changes to the scheme, and have bandied around plenty of other policy proposals
too.
Some of those can be read as criticism of the existing
administration’s approach – and opposition leaders will be keen to highlight
any divisions they can prise open.
Live Reporting
BBC Scotland News
All times stated are UK
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Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Concerns have been raised that the new service could cost far more than originally estimatedImage caption: Concerns have been raised that the new service could cost far more than originally estimated 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Analysis
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
GoogleCopyright: Google Registration for an expected 17,000 return points has now openedImage caption: Registration for an expected 17,000 return points has now opened 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Latest PostWATCH AGAIN: Ross, Sarwar and Cole-Hamilton question FM
If you missed them, you can watch the main questions from the opposition leaders, and Nicola Sturgeon's responses to them, below.
That's all from the live page team on today's First Minister's Questions.
Thanks for joining us and catch you next time.
Is FM glad she is heading for the 'exit door'?
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
All three opposition leaders have raised the deposit return scheme, just as all three SNP leadership candidates have called for changes to it.
Ms Sturgeon talked about UK government “colleagues making life difficult” for Douglas Ross, with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack at the heart of a row over market rules.
But her own finance secretary has warned of “economic carnage” should the plans go ahead as they stand, and the health secretary sitting at her elbow also wants amendments.
With months to go until the scheme goes live, businesses have already spent hundreds of millions of pounds preparing, and hundreds of jobs have been contracted.
Many will be furious if plans change – but others will be furious if they do not.
Once again, Ms Sturgeon may be glad she is heading for the exit door, and that this will all soon be someone else’s problem.
An avalanche of industry concerns - Alex Cole-Hamilton
Alex Cole-Hamilton also raises the deposit return scheme and says "government incompetence is undermining the very case for DRS".
The Scottish Lib Dem leader argues this is a moment of "real jeopardy" and adds there is an "avalanche of industrial concerns".
He calls on the first minister to halt the scheme as she has done with the National Care Service.
Sturgeon denies that her government is halting progress to a National Care Service, rather it's to allow the report to be received from the lead Holyrood committee.
The FM pledges her government continues to engage with businesses concerned by the DRS.
Is this really the best the SNP has to offer? - Sarwar
Anas Sarwar jokes that when Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation, she said the contenders to replace her as FM would show off the “best talent the SNP has to offer”.
He notes that Ash Regan is backed by Alex Salmond, Kate Forbes is backed by Jacob Rees-Mogg and Humza Yousaf is backed by SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.
At a time of “national crisis”, he asks “is this really the best the SNP has to offer?”
Nicola Sturgeon says if she was in the shoes of Anas Sarwar or Douglas Ross, she would be more worried that “the only political game in town” is the SNP and that the other parties are “lagging so far behind”.
The people of Scotland “continue to put their trust in us”, says the FM, citing record high rates of employment and record lows of unemployment among other achievements.
Whoever succeeds her is going to continue her record of success “for a long time” she adds, as “we complete the journey to Scotland becoming an independent country”.
BACKGROUND: New national care service law to be delayed
The law to pave the way for a new national care service in Scotland is to be delayed until after the SNP leadership contest.
The legislation was expected to be debated and voted on at Holyrood for this first time this month.
But BBC understands the Scottish government has decided to put it off until June.
The three candidates in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon have all said they want to revisit the current plans.
Read more here.
Choice of SNP leadership candidates is woeful - Sarwar
Mr Sarwar says the choice of SNP leadership candidates to be next first minister is “woeful”.
Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan are “falling over each other to distance themselves from their own government’s policies”, he says, citing “U-turns” on the DRS scheme and “wanting to hit the brakes” on a proposed National Care Service.
Which one of the three, with hindsight, does the FM regret appointing the most, asks the Scottish Labour leader.
Nicola Sturgeon says she is proud of all the governments she has led and those who have served in them.
She said when announcing her decision to step down that she would not express a preference for her successor, and Mr Sarwar will “not entice her” to do so either.
Ultimately, her government will be judged by the people of Scotland, Ms Sturgeon adds, pointing out that on no fewer than eight occasions that has produced “eight landslide victories”.
'Why is it that all people see is a divided government in chaos?'
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar addresses the cost of living crisis, NHS crisis and a wider economic crisis “made worse” by the “chaotic and flawed” deposit return scheme.
Amid an SNP leadership contest where the candidates are “more interested in scoring political points against each other”, he asks the FM “why is it that all people see is a divided government in chaos?”
Nicola Sturgeon says she has lost count of the number of Conservative and Labour leadership elections during her time as first minister.
She says the public will welcome a “robust debate” about the country’s future.
One of the things she is most proud of as FM is the “game-changing” Scottish Child Payment, which she says has been “transformational” for children and families across the country.
She is confident that whoever succeeds her will “continue with that record of success”.
'Irate nature of the exchanges over the DRS'
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Douglas Ross was caught using an expletive on mic when the session was interrupted by a protestor.
Perhaps that sums up the rather irate nature of the exchanges over the deposit return scheme.
It’s all turning out a bit like the annual rows over the budget – there are figures for everyone to hang arguments on.
The Tories want to talk about the number of firms signed up; Ms Sturgeon has come up with a reduced figure from the original Circularity Scotland estimate, but it would still mean less than half of producers have registered.
And she is also far more keen to talk about the percentage of the market covered.
Circularity Scotland will be keen to get both figures up to scratch, but will be wary of further changes coming down the road as this business-led scheme is increasingly gripped by politics.
Will deposit scheme lead to 'economic carnage'?
The Scottish Tory leader moves on to say Kate Forbes has said the DRS could create "economic carnage", and points out she is also the finance secretary.
The first minister says last week Ross was scared of Humza Yousaf, but this week he's "very scared of Kate Forbes".
Ross returns to the leadership election which he brands an "absolute bin fire" of a contest. He asks if anyone will find Kate Forbes's plans, to hold a referendum three months after a general election, credible.
Sturgeon replies that the SNP is united in favouring Scottish independence and she says the country will increasingly get behind it.
Ross apologises for use of 'industrial language'
Douglas Ross points out Humza Yousaf, Ash Regan and Kate Forbes have all said the deposit return scheme should be delayed.
Shouts from the gallery led to a brief suspension and Douglas Ross, clearly frustrated, was heard on the microphone using what he later described as "industrial language".
Mr Ross apologised to the chamber.
'This is about the environment'
The first minister says the vast majority of products are produced by a relatively small number of producers.
She again says more than 90% of the products included in the scheme are included.
Sturgeon insists the purpose and objective is about reducing littering by a third and it will increase recycling rates of single use drinks containers towards 90%.
"This is about the environment."
'When you're in a hole stop digging'
Douglas Ross says: "When you're in a hole stop digging."
The Scottish Conservative leader says Circularity Minister Lorna Slater was unable to answer the question of how many companies have registered.
He repeats that only 664 had done so by the deadline and he calls on the first minister to pause the deposit return scheme.
FM hits back over Deposit Return Scheme
Nicola Sturgeon says this is "sheer opportunism" by some opposition MSPs.
The first minister accuses some opposition politicians of "distortion" and then says she is referring to Scottish Secretary Alister Jack.
She points out the number of companies in the drinks industry inevitably changes over time.
At the outset of this scheme it was estimated that there were 4,500 companies, however significantly less than that will need to register.
The estimated number of individual producers will be below 2,000.
More important is the share of the market, the percentage of products that is included, she says.
"That is over 90%."
How does the Deposit Return Scheme work?
Under the initiative every drinks producer selling in Scotland will have to add 20p to products to be sold in the country in a single-use container.
It will be charged to the retailer who will in turn bill the consumer.
In order to recoup this money, people need to take the empty bottles or cans to a reverse vending machine in a supermarket or designated return point.
Most retailers and hospitality businesses that sell drinks to take away are legally required to operate a return point, with a total of 17,000 expected to be required across Scotland.
Deposit Return Scheme 'is an absolute shambles' says Ross
Douglas Ross goes on the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) as we predicted.
The Scottish Conservative leader says: "The scheme is an absolute shambles."
He asks how many businesses have signed up to the scheme.
FMQs gets under way
Nicola Sturgeon is poised in her seat and Douglas Ross gets to his feet to ask the first question, as FMQs begins.
What can we expect in FMQs today?
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Nicola Sturgeon has tried to keep out of politics since her resignation announcement, but continually finds herself dragged back in.
She has intervened in recent days by writing to Rishi Sunak in a bid to push along the deposit return scheme.
The recycling scheme needs a deal between the Scottish and UK governments to exempt it from internal market rules, but the mood music from Westminster is that this is unlikely.
And given the temperature has skyrocketed in recent days, with Lorna Slater accusing Alister Jack of making untrue statements in the Commons about whether an application has even been made.
Opposition leaders may well raise the question of how many firms have met a deadline to sign up to the system. The Scottish government prefers the cheery-looking figures for market volume, while opponents point to the rather lower overall number of firms who have registered.
All three candidates to replace Ms Sturgeon have suggested changes to the scheme, and have bandied around plenty of other policy proposals too.
Some of those can be read as criticism of the existing administration’s approach – and opposition leaders will be keen to highlight any divisions they can prise open.
BACKGROUND: Biggest drinks firms join bottle return scheme
Scotland's biggest drinks producers have signed up to the controversial deposit return scheme by the deadline, the Scottish government has confirmed.
The 664 companies that have registered are responsible for 95% of drinks sold in single-use containers in Scotland.
However critics say they cover only about 16% of all producers that sell their drinks across the country.
The scheme is designed to boost recycling via a 20p deposit on single-use bottles and cans.
Read more here.
Welcome
Welcome to our live coverage of First Minister's Questions on Thursday 2 March 2023.
We'll bring you live updates, backgrounds to stories and analysis.
To watch FMQs just click on the play icon at the top of the page.