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1698357

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	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	Microplastics: Washing Machines
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a technical standard for microplastic filters in washing machines; and whether his Department has had recent discussions with industry representatives on developing a technical standard.
	tabling member constituency	South West Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Andrew Selous
	uin	20219
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>In Defra’s Plan for Water, there is a commitment for industry and businesses to develop low cost, effective microfibre filters in washing machines and encourage their use.</p><p> </p><p>Defra commissioned an evidence assessment to understand the efficiencies, costs and benefits of installing filters in washing machines to trap microplastic fibres shredded from clothing during washing cycles. The report showed that filters demonstrated a range of efficiencies and costs associated with them. We recommended that filter manufacturers collaborate with the washing machine industry to develop and implement standardised tests to provide unequivocal performance data for the relevant government departments to consider. We await industry’s proposals.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 15/04/2024 15:56:30 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous

1698076

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2024
	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	Microplastics: Washing Machines
	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 his Department is taking to help prevent microplastics entering waterways from washing machines.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol East
	tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
	uin	20030
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>Government recently funded an external rapid evidence assessment to better understand the costs, benefits, and efficiencies of installing filters in washing machines. The filters aim to trap textile microplastic fibres during the laundry cycle and before discharge to sewer networks and wastewater treatment works. The assessment concluded further evidence was needed to determine how to avert additional costs incurred by consumers of new washing machines with filters, and the consumer’s sustainable disposal of used filters. Industry are currently conducting research and developing proposals to develop filters that meet this criteria, and Government are happy to review any research in this area.</p><p> </p><p>A water industry investigation of the levels and types of microplastics entering a range of UK wastewater treatment works reported that conventional treatment can remove 99% of microplastics by number and 99.5% by mass.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 15/04/2024 08:47:05 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1689500

	registered interest
	date	16/02/2024
	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	Microplastics: Washing Machines
	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 his Department has had discussions with businesses on installing microfibre filters in washing machines.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	14399
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/02/2024 answer text <p>In Defra’s Plan for Water, there is a commitment for industry and businesses to develop low cost, effective microfibre filters in washing machines to capture microfibre and encourage their effective use.</p><p> </p><p>This approach is informed by the evidence that shows that there is not a sufficient benefit to the environment for legislating the installation of microfibre-capturing filters in all new washing machines. Recent analyses showed an estimated increased cost from between £30 to £122 for a microfibre filter per machine and user behaviour around disposal of captured microfibres can make render the filters ineffective.</p><p> </p><p>We have conveyed this to industry colleagues, and we look forward to receiving a response which will help us to progress the issue.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 29/02/2024 12:23:03 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1671296

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2023
	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	Microplastics: Washing Machines
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their policy paper Plan for Water, updated on 4 April, what funding they intend to provide to develop microfibre filters on new washing machines.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL421
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government has already taken significant steps to tackle plastic pollution (e.g. microplastics), including restricting the supply of several single-use plastics through introducing a plastic packaging tax from April 2022; restricting the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds; and preventing billions of plastic microbeads from entering the ocean each year by introducing a ban on microbeads in rinse off personal care products.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of microfibres are removed through water treatment and analysis of the evidence available to date does not show that there is a sufficient benefit to the environment that can justify legislation to mandate the microfibre filters in new washing machines with prices ranging from £30 to £122 per machine, dependent on manufacturer and whether the filters are disposable or reusable. Defra’s Plan for Water therefore includes a commitment for industry to develop low cost, effective microfibre filters on washing machines and encourage their effective use. We have met industry colleagues and posed this challenge and we look forward to any proposals they are able to share when they are able to do so.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL419 HL420 HL422 question first answered 01/12/2023 15:00:11 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1671295

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2023
	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	Microplastics: Washing Machines
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential environmental benefits of mandating microfibre filters on new washing machines.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL420
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government has already taken significant steps to tackle plastic pollution (e.g. microplastics), including restricting the supply of several single-use plastics through introducing a plastic packaging tax from April 2022; restricting the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds; and preventing billions of plastic microbeads from entering the ocean each year by introducing a ban on microbeads in rinse off personal care products.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of microfibres are removed through water treatment and analysis of the evidence available to date does not show that there is a sufficient benefit to the environment that can justify legislation to mandate the microfibre filters in new washing machines with prices ranging from £30 to £122 per machine, dependent on manufacturer and whether the filters are disposable or reusable. Defra’s Plan for Water therefore includes a commitment for industry to develop low cost, effective microfibre filters on washing machines and encourage their effective use. We have met industry colleagues and posed this challenge and we look forward to any proposals they are able to share when they are able to do so.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL419 HL421 HL422 question first answered 01/12/2023 15:00:11 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1671297

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2023
	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	Microplastics: Washing Machines
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their policy paper Plan for Water, updated on 4 April, what plans they have to set a timetable for the enforcement of a mandate for microfibre filters on new washing machines.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL422
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government has already taken significant steps to tackle plastic pollution (e.g. microplastics), including restricting the supply of several single-use plastics through introducing a plastic packaging tax from April 2022; restricting the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds; and preventing billions of plastic microbeads from entering the ocean each year by introducing a ban on microbeads in rinse off personal care products.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of microfibres are removed through water treatment and analysis of the evidence available to date does not show that there is a sufficient benefit to the environment that can justify legislation to mandate the microfibre filters in new washing machines with prices ranging from £30 to £122 per machine, dependent on manufacturer and whether the filters are disposable or reusable. Defra’s Plan for Water therefore includes a commitment for industry to develop low cost, effective microfibre filters on washing machines and encourage their effective use. We have met industry colleagues and posed this challenge and we look forward to any proposals they are able to share when they are able to do so.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL419 HL420 HL421 question first answered 01/12/2023 15:00:11 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

1671294

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2023
	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	Microplastics: Washing Machines
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to tackle microplastic pollution entering waterways from washing machines.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	uin	HL419
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government has already taken significant steps to tackle plastic pollution (e.g. microplastics), including restricting the supply of several single-use plastics through introducing a plastic packaging tax from April 2022; restricting the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds; and preventing billions of plastic microbeads from entering the ocean each year by introducing a ban on microbeads in rinse off personal care products.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of microfibres are removed through water treatment and analysis of the evidence available to date does not show that there is a sufficient benefit to the environment that can justify legislation to mandate the microfibre filters in new washing machines with prices ranging from £30 to £122 per machine, dependent on manufacturer and whether the filters are disposable or reusable. Defra’s Plan for Water therefore includes a commitment for industry to develop low cost, effective microfibre filters on washing machines and encourage their effective use. We have met industry colleagues and posed this challenge and we look forward to any proposals they are able to share when they are able to do so.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon grouped question UIN HL420 HL421 HL422 question first answered 01/12/2023 15:00:11 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	1934 label Biography information for Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer