Written Question·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·UIN 90904
Deposit Return Schemes
Tabled: 13 November 2025
Answered: 20 November 2025
Question
Anneliese Midgley
Labour — Knowsley
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made with the the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of the potential merits of allowing unredeemed deposits within the Deposit Return Scheme to be retained by the Deposit Management Organisation to fund (a) infrastructure and (b) consumer engagement.
Answer
Mary CreaghThe Government is committed to ensuring that the deposit return schemes operate effectively and that VAT is not a barrier on industry or UK DMO. VAT is a decision for HMRC Ministers. Defra continue to work with HMRC and will set out more detail regarding VAT treatment within DRS in due course.