| Allan Wilson:
The motion asks
the Parliament to agree to the introduction of the Waste and Emissions
Trading Bill, which would enable us to do three things. First, it would
make us better able to achieve our targets of increasing recycling and
composting and reducing waste that is sent to landfill. Secondly, the bill
would fulfil our European obligations. Thirdly, it would enable more effective
operation of emissions trading schemes. As members know, the Executive
moves a Sewel motion when it proposes that the Scottish Parliament agree
that the Westminster Parliament should consider proposals for legislation
in a devolved area.
As its name
suggests, the bill relates to two policy areas. I will begin by discussing
the emissions trading element of the bill. As part of the UK climate change
programme, to which the Scottish Executive is committed to making an equitable
contribution through the Scottish climate change programme, the UK Government
established a UK-wide emissions trading scheme. The purpose of the scheme,
which has been operating across the UK with the agreement of the Scottish
Parliament since 2 April 2002, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at
minimum cost.
One way in which
organisations can enter the scheme is by voluntarily taking on an emissions
target in return for a financial incentive from the Government. A system
of contractual penalties is in place for participants in the scheme who
fail to meet their obligations. However, it was always the intention to
make the penalties for participants in the scheme statutory when Westminster
parliamentary time became available. All the participants in the scheme
will welcome that move because a robust compliance regime is needed to
underpin and stimulate a successful market.
In addition
to making the penalties for the UK-wide emissions trading scheme statutory,
the bill would grant powers to impose equivalent penalties in future emissions
trading schemes. That power would extend to the Scottish ministers in the
event of a Scotland-only emissions trading scheme. The bill would not alter
the Scottish ministers' powers to establish a Scotland-only emissions trading
scheme, but it is self-evident that the effectiveness of a trading scheme
is increased by maximising the number of participants, hence the reason
for establishing the existing UK-wide emissions trading scheme. I emphasise
that the Scottish ministers would retain the responsibility for the policy,
which would be delivered through instruments.
The bill would
provide for the design of a landfill allowances system, which would limit
the amount of biodegradable waste that local authorities may place in landfill
sites. The landfill directive requires member states of the European Union
to reduce the total weight of biodegradable municipal waste that is sent
to landfill. The decomposition of such waste produces various gases, including
methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas.
The landfill
allowance system that the bill would put in place would allow the UK's
obligation under the landfill directive to be divided among the UK's constituent
Administrations. The same instrument would be used to divide the targets
among local authorities. The Scottish ministers would determine the number
of allowances that are issued in Scotland, within our share of the directive
targets, and the distribution of those allowances.
The bill would
transpose the landfill directive obligation for a strategy for reduction
in biodegradable waste. It would be for the Scottish ministers to prepare
a strategy for Scotland. The bill would provide for penalties for local
authorities that use landfill in excess of their allowances and for landfill
operators that fail to supply information. Powers would be granted to the
Scottish ministers to determine whether Scottish local authorities may
trade their allowances.
The landfill-related
clauses would give the Scottish ministers an effective means of ensuring
that the landfill directive targets are delivered in Scotland. All members
agree that our reliance on landfill must be stopped and that the reduction
and management of waste are central to sustainable development. Our reliance
on landfill is no longer an option. The national waste strategy offers
a framework within which Scotland can reduce the amount of waste it produces
and deal with the waste that is produced in more sustainable ways.
As members will
be aware, the Executive is committed to increasing recycling and composting
of waste to 25 per cent and to reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal
waste that goes to landfill to 1.5 million tonnes by 2006. We have made
£230 million available in the next three years to help local authorities
respond to that challenge. We believe that taking advantage of the bill
is an elegant and effective way of furthering our environmental interests
in Scotland.
I move,
That the Parliament
supports the principles of the Waste and Emissions Trading Bill and agrees
that the provisions in the Bill that relate to devolved matters should
be considered by the UK Parliament.
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