An announcement on Scotland's delayed bottle recycling scheme is to be made "imminently" but a Greens minister still can't say when it will be launched.
Lorna Slater previously confirmed the long-awaited eco initiative - which was supposed to be underway by April this year - would be pushed back a second time and blamed Brexit and the pandemic.
She told MSPs today she still didn't have a timeline for its launch but claimed more details could be published before Christmas.
Dean Lockhart, convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, asked Slater: "When can we expect to see the legislation to introduce the deposit return scheme?"
The Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity replied: "I'm afraid I don't have a timeline for that just now.
"I'll be making an announcement to parliament on that imminently, as soon as I possibly can.
"We are all aware of the urgency of getting that scheme implemented for Scotland and I am working very hard, but I'm afraid I haven't got a timeline today."
Lockhart said: "I completely understand, no you don't have a specific timeline.
"Do you think it will be this side of the summer recess like June next year, or do you think we're looking at potentially a longer wait for the legislation to be introduced?"
Slater replied: "I will come and make an announcement to parliament on that.
"I intend to do that before the Christmas recess to update parliament on that. Hopefully that will be possible."
The plan, which is an SNP manifesto pledge, requires shoppers to pay an extra 20p when buying drinks in cans and bottles, with the fee being refunded when they return the empty containers for recycling.
Businesses which would be key to making the scheme work were still “badly affected by the pandemic and the mismanagement of Brexit”, said Slater during her statement to parliament earlier this month.
She also blamed the UK Government for failing to resolve the VAT payments on the deposit returns.
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