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Two people are being treated in Scotland for the potentially deadly diphtheria infection.

NHS Lothian has confirmed the two cases are related and both patients are thought to be in hospital in Edinburgh.

The health board said those involved had recently returned from overseas.

Public health experts said the likelihood of any additional cases was very small, as most people were protected by immunisation given in childhood.

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Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne seeks a response to reports of people being treated for diphtheria in the NHS Lothian area.

Tory MSP Maurice Golden welcomes the comments that the scheme will be industry led, but criticises the deposit level being set by ministers.

The minister says she is not sure she agrees with that, adding the flat rate is the best place for Scotland to be.

Environment and Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says Scottish government officials have met with representatives of the industry to discuss the deposit return scheme and there has been a workshop for small brewers.

Ms Baillie raises concerns that the Scottish craft brewing industry have raised with her and she argues they would rather see the deposit return scheme (DRS) proceed on a UK wide basis.

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Ms Cunningham replies her officials are looking into a date for meeting and argues the regulations will not necessitate a label change.

She insists the DRS will be industry led and she encourages all small retailers to be very much involved in work that is being done to take the whole issue forward.

Ms Baillie calls for a two phased introduction of the DRS, firstly with plastic and cans, then later introducing glass, however the minister explains this would make things more difficult.

Concerns have been raised about the inter-operability of the deposit return schemes across the UK and the impact this could have on small breweries.

Under the Scottish proposals, brewers will face registration fees and producer fees - but possible legislation in England could introduce changes to extended producer responsibility.

James Calder, chief executive of Society of Independent Brewers, has warned this could result in "double taxation" and small brewers may not be able to cover these costs.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks about discussions with craft brewers about the deposit return scheme.

Ms Linsay Taylor from the Muslim Council of Scotland and Board of Interfaith Scotland is delivering today's time for reflection.

Resuming at 2pm...

Topical questions will also cover the deposit return scheme, as well as two cases of diphtheria being detected in the Lothian area.

Then Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf will make a statement regarding Sheku Bayoh, following the Crown Office's decision yesterday not to prosecute anyone in relation to his death.

After this, MSPs take part in a debate titled 'Protecting the Rights of EU Citizens in Scotland'.

Then Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton will lead a debate on tackling the abuse faced by female politicians and parliamentary candidates.

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Labour MSP Claudia Beamish pivots to cross border issues and says some organisations have raised issues around the DRS.

James McLeod from Dumfries and Galloway Council explains the issue lies with the businesses, not local authorities.

"Perhaps Gretna becomes not a wedding venue, but a deposit return venue."

Green MSP Mark Ruskell highlights several local authorities have signed contracts on incinerating residual waste and he wonders how DRS will impact this.

Craig Hatton says we have not been able to model changes DRS will cause, but the amount of recyclable material recovered expected is in the contract and we may struggle to hit that if DRS is successful.

Samantha Harding says she hopes DRS would reduce reliance on incineration and she suggests more thought should be given about attracting more investment and jobs in recycling in Scotland.

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Calum Duncan from Marine Conservation Society points out unredeemed deposits outweigh the costs of recycling and reducing kerbside collection reduces CO2.

Mr Duncan says: "All I can see is a range of wins there for the taxpayer, the environment and for local authorities."

Silke Isbrand says COSLA want to see DRS work but the impact across the country must be understood.

Ms Isbrand points out the impact is being studied now by Zero Wast Scotland but the findings won't be available until mid-December which is very unfortunate.

Stephen Freeland says this is an opportunity to rethink recycling and there needs a to be a jolt to meet the higher targets, stressing the importance of EPR.

Asked about scavenging, Craig Hatton explains North Ayrshire used to collect textiles which could be sold on.

What happened was "private entrepreneurs" would go out ahead of the council's vehicles and picking up the textiles on the day of collection, he says.

We could imagine a similar scenario happening with kerbside collection for bottles, he adds.

Samantha Harding from Reloop Platform says scavenging is not a big issue in systems around the world.

She points to a number of solutions to this, including an option for people who do not want the deposit back to drop off bottles and for others who need it to be given the money instead.

Gillian Martin argues there will be knock on benefits in terms of street cleaning and other litter.

Mr Hatton points out other litter like chewing gum and cigarettes will still need to be cleaned up and he warns of the danger of scavenging for bottles and cartons in bins.

James McLeod from Dumfries and Galloway Council says owing to an end to a contract, the council has been able to redesign its waste collection system with the support for Zero Waste Scotland and an eye to DRS.

Our new system for the whole of the region, currently awaiting final sign off, is looking at a two-bin system all collected by one type of vehicle he explains.

Rolf Matthews from Glasgow City Council says with glass being targeted by DRS we will be reviewing our kerbside glass collection services.

Craig Hatton emphasises a significant amount of councils are expected a cost rise in order to redesign their services, rather than a reduction due to the rollout of DRS.

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Craig Hatton from SOLACE says whilst he would welcome DRS, there are significant risks for local authorities.

Mr Hatton argues materials for DRS will be cleaner, meaning kerbside recycling will be of a lower quality.

David Macleod from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar says very little of what is collected in containers has any net value, so DRS will be a positive step.

Mr Macleod says this is seen as purely a net benefit for his council..

The Scottish government has outlined its plans for a deposit return scheme for some plastic drinking containers, cans and glass.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham told MSPs at Holyrood that a "return to retail" model would be adopted.

She added that following an extensive consultation the deposit would be set at 20p.

The move is part of the government's climate action plan.

Read more.

Philip McKay from Aberdeenshire Council says local authorities have been through significant change in terms of waste systems and recycling rates have increased as a result.

He tells the committee Aberdeenshire Council stopped kerbside collection of glass a number of years ago and instead residents have to travel to a recycling point.

But we have not seen any change in terms of volumes being recycling and not going to landfill, he adds.

The final panel will consider the impacts on local authorities and how to integrate the scheme with existing recycling and processing infrastructure.

It involves:

• Calum Duncan from Marine Conservation Society, external
• Samantha Harding from Reloop Platform, external
• Craig Hatton from SOLACE, external
• Silke Isbrand from COSLA, external
• Colin Forshaw of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management Scotland, external
• Stephen Freeland from the Scottish Environmental Services Association, external
• David Macleod from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, external
• Philip McKay from Aberdeenshire Council, external
• James McLeod from Dumfries and Galloway Council, external
• Rolf Matthews from Glasgow City Council, external
• Andy Summers from Highland Council, external

Andrew Tighe points out the £26m must be in place for the administrator to be able to give loans out.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell returns to the issue of fraud and how it can be minimised.

Colin Smith of Scottish Wholesale Association says his members will not be compensated by the administrator, but are potentially able to identify fraud.

Mr Smith calls for wholesalers to be included in the regulations.

Thus ends the second roundtable on DRS.