Waste firm 'good to go' in £166m empties compo fight

A LAWYER for a waste company chasing a £166million claim over the controversial deposit return scheme against the Scottish Government has told a judge his case is “good to go” to court.

- By James Mulholland

Roddy Dunlop KC made the statement at a procedural hearing yesterday in an action brought against ministers by Biffa Waste Services Ltd.

The company raised the case at the Court of Session in Edinburgh over ministers’ decision to delay the introduction of the scheme.

They allege that Lorna Slater — the former Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity — gave negligent assurances to the firm in a letter to ensure their participation.

Biffa’s lawyer Mr Dunlop told judge Lord Clark last year that the letter made no reference to Holyrood’s need to get final approval from Westminster.

The scheme was later scrapped after the Conservative government in London refused to give the go-ahead. The firm believes the Scottish Government “negligently misrepresented the assurance it gave” to Biffa.