Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes clashed again tonight in the final TV debate of the SNP leadership race.
The two frontrunners to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister set out opposing views on the future of the Scottish Government's controversial recycling scheme, which is due to launch in August.
Yousaf accused Forbes of wanting to let big businesses "off the hook" after she repeated her intention to pause the deposit return scheme (DRS) if she wins power.
The health secretary suggested smaller drinks producers could be exempted from the scheme - but insisted it should still be launched later this year.
The DRS will charge Scots a 20p deposit for each single-use drinks can or bottle they purchase in a bid to encourage more recycling.
But many companies have refused to sign-up and other firms have warned the scheme could put them out of business in its current form.
In a testy exchange during the live BBC debate, Yousaf was asked by host Stephen Jardine why he had earlier suggested that Forbes had "moved to the right economically".
He replied: "I was simply saying we should build on our progressive agenda. What you could do is exclude small business and ensure big business is held to account."
Forbes fired back: "I think it’s perfectly progressive to represent small businesses, because small businesses are indeed the backbone of our Scottish economy.
"That is not a lurch to the right, that is pretty desperate spin.”
Yousaf responded: "I think you’re appealing to big business by letting them off the hook in a really important scheme, because climate is so important to all of us."
Ash Regan, the third candidate vying to replace Sturgeon, has also backed calls for the scheme to be paused.
She said: "We can’t be putting too many burdens on small businesses. We need to look again at this, we need to involve small business, to come and talk to us about where it needs changed, get it right and then implement it."
The live debate was the only one of the SNP leadership race to be filmed in front of a studio audience.
One member of the public raised the issue of the ferry fiasco at Ferguson Marine which has seen the government-owned shipyard fail to complete two vessels for Caledonian MacBrayne.
Yousaf, a former transport minister, conceded the situation was "unacceptable" after a public spending watchdog today warned a finishing date for the work could still not be given.
"It is not acceptable, and of course the whole of government has to take that collective responsibility.” He added: "There has been challenges at Ferguson’s, but I don’t regret the decision for a minute to save hundreds of jobs on the Clyde."
Yousaf, the health secretary, was also forced to apologise to an audience member who had been told it would take between three and six years for a knee replacement.
In the first question of the debate, Yousaf said: “Firstly, can I apologise.” He went on to say he was in favour of “progressive taxation” to ensure enough funding could be supplied to the health service.
Asked if he could understand why the audience member whose wife asked the question was considering going private, Yousaf added: “Of course I can. I wouldn’t have any humanity if I couldn’t understand that.
"I would want the NHS to look after you in the same way it would look after my mother or my father.”
Forbes said the wait was "unacceptable" while Regan said Scots "pay into the system" and "expect a certain level of service" from the NHS.
The debate ended with the three candidates being asked what they would want to be judged on if they were to become First Minister.
Nicola Sturgeon once said voters should judge her on her record on education and closing the attainment gap - but Yousaf said he would want to be judged on efforts on eradicating poverty.
"It is the heart of everything," he claimed. "You must, if not eradicate, substantially reduce poverty."
Forbes said: "Eradicating poverty is the reason I am in politics, it has what has motivated me throughout my life. It is what I want to be judged on."
Regan said she wanted to focus on the “priorities of the people of Scotland and deliver for them” if she becomes First Minister.
Voting among SNP members to elect their new leader opened on Monday and will run until noon on March 27.
A winner will be announced that afternoon.
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