That ends our live coverage of the DRS statement. If you are just joining us, here's a quick recap:

• The deposit return scheme in Scotland is to be delayed until October 2025 at the earliest
• The circular economy minister says she had "no choice but to delay" after the UK government excluded glass from the Scottish scheme
• Lorna Slater said she remained committed to introducing the recycling scheme - although it will be more limited than originally intended

• The delay means that the Scottish scheme is likely to launch at the same time as similar proposals for other parts of the UK
• Slater accuses the UK government of committing an "act of sabotage"
• Tory MSP Maurice Golden in turn accuses the first minister of "reckless scaremongering" about the scheme
• For Labour, Sarah Boyak says the SNP are more interested in a "constitutional fight" than in making DRS work

The live page editor was Paul McLaren, and Andrew Picken and Craig Hutchison were the writers. Thank you for joining us.

Image source, PA Media

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has responded to the delay to the deposit return scheme.

Jack said: "I welcome the announcement from the Scottish government that they are to pause their deposit return scheme so that it starts at the same time as the UK government’s scheme, and also their commitment to interoperability.

"Deposit return schemes need to be consistent across the whole of the UK, to provide a simple and effective system for businesses and consumers."

Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The deposit return scheme in Scotland is to be delayed until October 2025 at the earliest.

Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater told Holyrood that she was committed to having a scheme, but that it will come later and be more limited than was planned.

Ms Slater said she was left with no option but to delay the deposit return scheme, when the UK government imposed conditions to ensure it works cross border.

It wants glass to be excluded and said there should be a cap on deposit levels, a single barcode and logo .

But the minister said the scottish government was being asked to comply with regulations which don't yet exist. The March start date has now been put back until a UK-wide scheme is ready to go

Image source, Getty Images

The British Soft Drinks Association (BDSA) welcomed the decision by Scottish ministers to delay the scheme.

Its director general, Gavin Partington, said a workable proposal needed to align with other schemes planned across the UK.

He added: "We now urge the UK government to publish a blueprint for how it intends to achieve an October 2025 start date, particularly regarding how it intends to fulfil the conditions set out in its letter to the Scottish government.

"BSDA members remain committed to working with the UK government and devolved governments to help ensure DRS can be delivered effectively and efficiently for consumers and businesses alike.”

The body representing retailers in Scotland has described the row over the future of the deposit return scheme as a "sorry saga".

Ewan MacDonald-Russell, deputy head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, says lessons must be learned.

He adds: "The scheme has been bedevilled by a rush to unachievable dates and a failure to take on board businesses' reasonable and practical suggestions.

"There is an urgent need to move beyond that and deliver this as a project without the politics."

This is about more than beer bottles - it's about how devolution workspublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 7 June 2023

15:30 BST 7 June 2023

David Wallace Lockhart
Political correspondent

We now have confirmation of what was starting to feel inevitable. Scotland’s deposit return scheme won't start next March - it will be operating by October 2025 at the earliest.

The logic behind that date is that it's when the UK government wants to have its own scheme.

There's been a long-running argument about glass being excluded from the Scottish scheme. But this, Lorna Slater told MSPs, was just the tip of the iceberg.

She argued that more "sabotage" came via other UK government conditions: such as one administration fee and one logo for the schemes that will (eventually) operate across all of the UK.

But this is about more than how beer bottles, cartons and juice cans are recycled. This is about how devolution works.

Scottish ministers feel that the UK government has thwarted plans to introduce legislation in an area where they have responsibility.

The UK government argues that their approach is sensible. If all UK schemes are to align at a later point, then they say they have to ensure certain conditions are put into place in Scotland now.

Many businesses may be less concerned with who’s to blame, and more concerned with the money and time spent preparing for a project that's now been kicked into the long grass.

Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell says Holyrood has been treated with “utter contempt” by the Westminster Tories and asks about the impact on both the environment and Scotland’s democracy.

Slater says she shares the frustrations of many that the scheme has been “torpedoed at the last minute by [Scottish Secretary] Alister Jack”.

Image source, Getty Images

Liam McArthur points out this is the fourth delay to DRS and he accuses both governments of "stoking division and indulging in constitutional spats".

What will the minister do to provide reassurances to businesses, the Lib Dem MSP asks.

"The first minister and I met with businesses today and of course certainty is exactly what businesses are asking for," replies Slater.

The minister blames the uncertainty on the UK government.

Labour backbencher Mercedes Villalba points out the Scottish government has spent £280m on the project so far and urges it to “take some responsibility” for its decision.

Slater tells Holyrood that it is the UK government’s actions which have put the Scottish government in an “impossible position”.

Image source, Getty Images

SNP MSP Clare Adamson says the common frameworks agreed between the UK government and the devolved nations were meant to facilitate regulatory divergence.

She asks if the UK government has not damaged these frameworks.

The minister replies: "The UK government appears to have torn up the common frameworks.

"That should be deeply concernging to all of us."

Slater, in turn, accuses the UK government of being a “bad faith actor" for changing its mind on glass.

The Green minister says the Scottish government is “absolutely operating in good faith here” but needs more from its UK government counterparts.

Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack accuses the SNP and Tories of being “more interested in a constitutional fight” than making the scheme work.

Ms Boyack claims “Scotland is paying the price for two bad governments” and asks what are the next steps for getting the scheme back on track.

Lorna Slater ponders whether Golden understands the statement she has given.

The circular economy minister says the main conditions that have been applied to the scheme by the UK government "place us in an impossible position".

Maurice Golden begins by saying the scheme had failed long before any intervention from the UK government.

The Tory MSP stresses the importance of having a scheme that works across the UK.

Image source, Getty Images

He says the Scottish government's plan an attempt to salvage something from this "disastrous scheme" and he accuses the first minister of "reckless scaremongering".

Golden points out just days ago the SNP were ready to abandon DRS and he asks was the first minister just using the row over glass to allow him to ditch the scheme?

Slater says the Scottish government has been "left with no other option" but to postpone the launch of the scheme.

But she adds: "this parliament voted for a deposit return scheme. I am committed to a deposit return scheme. Scotland will have a deposit return scheme."

Image source, Getty Images

Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater says that after an “intense” period of consultation with businesses, the “overwhelming feedback” is that they cannot prepare for a March launch of the scheme.

The Scottish government minister says these firms need more certainty about the changes being required by the UK government.

Lorna Slater tells the chamber: "The UK government’s conditions blow a massive hole in any certainty."

Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater confirms the deposit return scheme cannot go ahead from next March as previously planned.

Image source, Reuters

The minister says "an even bigger act of sabotage" comes from the UK government with it imposing a number of other conditions.

These include a maximum cap on deposit levels agreed across all nations, one administration fee to cover all schemes across the UK and one barcode for use across all parts of the UK and one logo for all schemes.

Slater points out the UK government can't say what these would be or if they would be delegated to a scheme delivery body at least two-and-a-half years away.

"It is England that has chosen to step out of line."

Slater argues Holyrood has delivered distinct policies for Scotland.

The circular economy minister refers to the removal of glass from the the Internal Market Act exemption delivered by Westminster.

The case for including glass is clear she insists and she outlines the environmental benefits.