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1697193

registered interest
date	19/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Plastics: Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a Minister from his Department plans to attend the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, INC4, taking place in Ottawa, Canada, in April 2024.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	19452
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2024 answer text <p>At the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution the UK will be represented in the negotiations by a delegation of UK Government officials. A Defra Minister is also planning to attend high-level ministerial events immediately prior to the negotiations.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 04/04/2024 12:03:58 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1694900

registered interest
date	11/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Plastics: Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of levels of plastic pollution per capita in the UK; what steps his Department is taking to tackle those levels; and what plans he has to reduce plastic waste generation in the long-term.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
uin	17796
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2024 answer text <p>We have banned the use of microbeads in rinse-off personal care products. Our single-use plastic carrier bag charge, now 10p, has reduced the number of such bags given out by the main supermarkets by over 98%. We brought in measures to restrict the supply of single-use plastic straws and single-use plastic stemmed cotton buds and ban the supply of plastic drink stirrers in 2020. In October 2023, we also banned the supply of single-use plastic plates, bowls, and trays to the end-user and banned the supply of single-use plastic cutlery and single-use plastic balloon sticks and expanded and foamed extruded polystyrene food and drinks containers, including cups. In April 2022, we brought in the Plastic Packaging Tax, a tax of £200 per tonne on plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into the UK, that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic. From April 2023, it has increased in line with inflation to £210.82/tonne.</p><p>Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) will make producers responsible for the costs of collecting and managing packaging they place on the market when it is no longer used and becomes waste. This will encourage businesses to think carefully about how much packaging they use, to design and use packaging that is easily recyclable, and to use reusable and refillable packaging. This will contribute to our goals of a more circular economy, in which resources are kept in use for longer, minimising the waste we create, and cutting carbon emissions.</p><p>As one of the founding members of the high ambition coalition of countries calling for an end to plastic pollution by 2040, the UK will do all we can to press for the agreement of a high ambition Treaty by the end of 2024.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 19/03/2024 15:21:45 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

1687745

registered interest
date	06/02/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Plastics: Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle pre-production plastic pellet, nurdle, pollution in the marine environment.
tabling member constituency	Isle of Wight
tabling member printed	Bob Seely
uin	13334
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2024 answer text <p>Tackling marine plastic pollution in all its forms is a priority for the UK Government, and we’re taking action domestically, regionally and internationally to address this issue.</p><p> </p><p>Our statutory UK Marine Strategy sets out a vision for UK waters to achieve clean, safe, healthy biologically diverse and productive seas, which are used sustainably. The UK Marine Strategy Part One set out our aim for the amount of litter on coastlines and in the marine environment to be declining over time and for levels to not pose a significant risk to the coastal and marine environment.</p><p> </p><p>In 2019, the British Irish Council Ministers recognised the need to address the loss of plastic pellets and supported the development of a Publicly Available Specification developed by the British Standards Institution. This Specification sets out requirements for the handling and management of plastic pellets, flakes and powders throughout the supply chain to prevent spills, leaks and loss to the environment, and was the first of its kind when published in July 2021. Details can be found on the BSI website: <a href="https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/plastic-pellets-flakes-and-powders-handling-and-management-throughout-the-supply-chain-to-prevent-their-leakage-to-the-environment-specification?version=standard" target="_blank">PAS 510:2021 | 31 Jul 2021 | BSI Knowledge (bsigroup.com).</a></p><p> </p><p>As a Contracting Party to the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, the UK develops and implements actions under the OSPAR Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter and has led an action on preventing plastic pellet loss in the supply chain. The action has resulted in the adoption of a Recommendation on minimum requirements for pellet loss certification schemes, to promote coherence in national approaches and drive improved standards throughout the supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is a leading voice in the negotiation of a new international treaty on plastic pollution and has called for binding provisions to reduce and prevent microplastic pollution from all sources. In particular, the UK has called for specific provisions to prevent and eliminate emissions and releases of plastic pellets, flakes and powders across the whole supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, the UK is contributing to discussions at the International Maritime Organisation regarding requirements for the shipping of plastic pellets. Recommendations on the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers are under development and are expected to be approved this year. The UK is pushing for action to be taken as soon as possible to reduce the incidence of plastic pellet spills at sea.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 20/02/2024 09:45:05 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4681 label Biography information for Bob Seely

1657581

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Plastics: Pollution
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) prevent, (2) reduce, and (3) eliminate, plastic pollution.
tabling member printed	Lord Redesdale
uin	HL9819
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>The Government has taken an ambitious approach to tackling plastic pollution. We have already banned microbeads in rinse-off personal care products, as well as banning and restricting commonly littered plastic items – including our upcoming restrictions on single use plastic plates, cutlery, balloon sticks and expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drinks containers from October this year. Our single use carrier bag charge has reduced the use of single use carrier bags by 98% in the main retailers and in the Plan for Water, we recently announced that we will change the law to ban the sale of wet wipes containing plastic subject to public consultation, which will be launched in Autumn 2023.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government is also proud to have supported the proposal by Rwanda and Peru that led to the ambitious resolution to start negotiating an international legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, agreed at the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022. The UK is proud to be a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, a coalition of like-minded Governments that are committed to achieving an ambitious international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The High Ambition Coalition has agreed a common ambition to end plastic pollution by 2040, underpinned by strategic goals and deliverables.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 12/09/2023 16:00:06 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	3271 label Biography information for Lord Redesdale

1564287

registered interest
date	06/01/2023
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Plastics: Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of sequins on the level of plastic pollution in England.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	117851
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2023 answer text <p>We recognise the environmental impact of the textiles industry, which is why we identified the sector as a priority for action in the Government’s 2018 Resources &amp; Waste Strategy for England. A key part of this strategy is working with industry to reduce their environmental impact. In 2021 we funded Textiles 2030, our new voluntary programme delivered by our partner WRAP, with signatories representing more than 62% of all clothing placed on the UK market. Through Textiles 2030, WRAP is working with members to drive circular design. A toolkit has been produced for members to support design and production teams to make decisions that reduce waste, increase longevity and support recyclability.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 18/01/2023 11:18:16 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1521532

registered interest
date	12/10/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Plastics: Pollution
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to reduce plastic pollution following the discovery of microplastics in human breast milk.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2514
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2022 answer text <p>The Government is taking decisive action to reduce plastic pollution. We have introduced one of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products and brought in measures to restrict the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in October 2020. The use of single-use carrier bags has been reduced in the main supermarkets by over 97% with our five, now ten, pence charge.</p><p>As set out in the 2022-2023 UK REACH Work Programme available on GOV.UK, we are reviewing intentionally added microplastics and the risks they pose to human health and the environment. The results will help to inform the Government's approach to managing any risks whether through UK REACH or other routes.</p><p>The recent study that has found microplastic particles in breast milk indicates the potential for low human neonate exposure via breast milk (and the exposure of the mother). However, the small sample size in these studies mean that these results need to be taken as indicative and highlight the need for further research in this area.</p><p>In 2021, the UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) published an overarching statement on potential risks from exposure to microplastics ( <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcot.food.gov.uk%2FM-statementsandpositionpapers%23microplastics&amp;data=05%7C01%7CMaria.Alemao%40defra.gov.uk%7Cb4b3da3967f744c61f2f08dab821640d%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638024750789679907%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=n4OOhar%2FgGNLbQ6yHDNWdcqgBClUIcl8gXS668Vwx3o%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://cot.food.gov.uk/M-statementsandpositionpapers#microplastics(opens in a new tab)</a>). A copy is attached to this answer. The COT made a number of proposals for research priorities to aid risk assessment of microplastics, and concluded that &quot;based on the available data, it is not yet possible to perform a complete assessment for the potential risks from exposure to micro and nanoplastics via the oral and inhalation routes&quot;.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 08/11/2022 16:33:45 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name COT Microplastics Overarching Statement 2021_final_0.pdf title COT Microplastics Overarching Statement 2021
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1452382

registered interest
date	17/03/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Plastics: Pollution
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking towards securing a UNEA resolution for a treaty on plastic pollution; what timetable they are working to; and how they will monitor the effectiveness of any such treaty.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL7068
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2022 answer text <p>The UK is proud to have supported the proposal by Rwanda and Peru that led to the ambitious resolution on ending plastic pollution agreed at the continuation of the 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022.</p><p>As laid out in the adopted resolution, a series of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meetings will be held to negotiate the content of the treaty. The first meeting is due to take place in the second half of 2022 with the aim of concluding negotiations by the end of 2024.</p><p> </p><p>An Open-Ended Working Group meeting is scheduled for the first half of 2022, where the INC’s programme of work will be discussed.</p><p> </p><p>The introduction of any monitoring mechanisms, including on monitoring the effectiveness of the treaty, will be negotiated by the INC.</p><p> </p><p>At UNEA 5, the UK announced it had joined the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution as a founding member to drive a comprehensive and effective new treaty.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 31/03/2022 12:42:12 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1440898

registered interest
date	14/03/2022
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Plastics: Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) work with international counterparts on tackling plastic pollution and (b) implement the Deposit Return Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Ynys Môn
tabling member printed	Virginia Crosbie
uin	139630
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2022 answer text <p>Plastic pollution is a global challenge, and the UK engages across multilateral forums and organisations to raise global ambition and drive action to minimise plastic pollution from both land and sea-based sources, including the G7 and G20, the OSPAR Convention, the World Trade Organisation and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.</p><p> </p><p>Through the £500 million Blue Planet Fund the UK is funding developing countries to protect the marine environment and reduce poverty, including the Global Plastic Action Partnership to address plastic pollution. Through the UK and Vanuatu-led Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance, 34 Commonwealth nations have now committed to taking action on plastic pollution in the ocean.</p><p> </p><p>The UK co-sponsored the ambitious proposal that led to the resolution adopted at the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022 to develop a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, and the UK has joined the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution to drive a comprehensive and effective treaty.</p><p> </p><p>A second consultation on introducing a deposit return scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was published in 2021 and is now closed. The Government is analysing the responses to that consultation, with a view to publishing a Government response soon.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 17/03/2022 12:17:49 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4859 label Biography information for Virginia Crosbie

1378020

registered interest
date	12/11/2021
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Plastics: Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he or his Cabinet colleagues at COP26 had with their international counterparts on the impact of deposit return schemes on tackling plastic pollution.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	73699
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2021 answer text <p>The consultation held earlier this year proposed the scheme would go live in late 2024, subject to views from the consultation. Final details of the timeline for bringing the deposit return scheme (DRS) into operation, as well as the scope of the scheme for material and size of drinks containers to be included, will be presented in a Government response which will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p>No specific discussions were had by the Secretary of State or Cabinet colleagues at COP26 regarding DRS. However, we know that successful international schemes have achieved upwards of 90% collection rates for drinks containers which can play a big part in tackling plastic pollution.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 73698 question first answered 22/11/2021 15:48:35 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1328932

registered interest
date	27/05/2021
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Plastics: Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of plastic pollution in waterways in Newcastle.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	8552
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/06/2021 answer text <p>The Environment Agency has not conducted an assessment on the level of plastic pollution in waterways in Newcastle.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 07/06/2021 13:54:04 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown