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1238715

registered interest
date	29/09/2020
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	Fishing Catches
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the fishing license condition issued to non-sector under 10 metre vessels affecting Cat A (91/99) and Cat A limited (94/99), effective from 27 September 2020, what the reasons are for altering the requirement to submit a catch record from before landing to on landing.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	97019
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>Currently, more than 58,650 catch records have been submitted using the new catch recording service for under-10m vessels. To date 79% of vessel owners or skippers have signed up to use the app in England and the Isle of Man, and in Wales uptake is 82%.</p><p> </p><p>On 27 September 2020 the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) altered the licensing requirement for under-10 metre commercial fishing skippers to submit a catch record before landing. The alteration is a result of feedback from the catching sector and is designed to support fishermen who have expressed concerns about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. The change will enable them to complete this part of their catch record submission on landing if they choose.</p><p> </p><p>The condition says the record must be submitted before removal from point of landing to point of sale. It now allows fishermen to weigh their catch on board their vessel or on shore, ensure connectivity (or phone signal) to submit their record and get assistance from others if needed. Different ports provide different facilities, with some offering provision of scales while others do not. Fishermen are at liberty to purchase scales to assist them should they wish to do so to ensure accuracy.</p><p> </p><p>In case of connectivity problems, the catch app has been designed to be used offline to ensure no fishermen are disadvantaged by landing into ports with poor internet connections. Fishermen can complete and authorise submission of their catch record even if there is no signal where they are. It is then cached on their device to be submitted automatically once the fisherman is in an area with better connectivity.</p><p> </p><p>The alteration to the submission deadline was made in response to feedback from fishermen that was gathered through engagement during the development and user-testing of the app and website, the roll-out of the service and ongoing use of the app. MMO officers in coastal locations are engaging with fishermen on the issue to supplement guidance. It is an optional way of working for fishermen introduced in response to concerns from some about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. Fishermen are under no obligation to land their catch before submitting their record and can continue to submit the required data via the app or website before removing the fish from their vessels as they have been doing to date.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 97020 97021 97022 97023 97024 97025 question first answered 07/10/2020 09:20:10 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1238716

registered interest
date	29/09/2020
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	Fishing Catches
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the fishing license condition issued to non-sector under 10 metre vessels affecting Cat A (91/99) and Cat A limited (94/99), effective from 27 September 2020 and altering the requirement to submit a catch record from before landing to on landing, what definition of on landing his Department plans to use for enforcement purposes.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	97020
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>Currently, more than 58,650 catch records have been submitted using the new catch recording service for under-10m vessels. To date 79% of vessel owners or skippers have signed up to use the app in England and the Isle of Man, and in Wales uptake is 82%.</p><p> </p><p>On 27 September 2020 the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) altered the licensing requirement for under-10 metre commercial fishing skippers to submit a catch record before landing. The alteration is a result of feedback from the catching sector and is designed to support fishermen who have expressed concerns about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. The change will enable them to complete this part of their catch record submission on landing if they choose.</p><p> </p><p>The condition says the record must be submitted before removal from point of landing to point of sale. It now allows fishermen to weigh their catch on board their vessel or on shore, ensure connectivity (or phone signal) to submit their record and get assistance from others if needed. Different ports provide different facilities, with some offering provision of scales while others do not. Fishermen are at liberty to purchase scales to assist them should they wish to do so to ensure accuracy.</p><p> </p><p>In case of connectivity problems, the catch app has been designed to be used offline to ensure no fishermen are disadvantaged by landing into ports with poor internet connections. Fishermen can complete and authorise submission of their catch record even if there is no signal where they are. It is then cached on their device to be submitted automatically once the fisherman is in an area with better connectivity.</p><p> </p><p>The alteration to the submission deadline was made in response to feedback from fishermen that was gathered through engagement during the development and user-testing of the app and website, the roll-out of the service and ongoing use of the app. MMO officers in coastal locations are engaging with fishermen on the issue to supplement guidance. It is an optional way of working for fishermen introduced in response to concerns from some about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. Fishermen are under no obligation to land their catch before submitting their record and can continue to submit the required data via the app or website before removing the fish from their vessels as they have been doing to date.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 97019 97021 97022 97023 97024 97025 question first answered 07/10/2020 09:20:10 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1238717

registered interest
date	29/09/2020
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	Fishing Catches
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the fishing license condition issued to non-sector under 10 metre vessels affecting Cat A (91/99) and Cat A limited (94/99), effective from 27 September 2020 and altering the requirement to submit a catch record from before landing to on landing, what assessment has he made of the availability of fish weighing scales for use by fishermen in all English harbours and landing areas.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	97021
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>Currently, more than 58,650 catch records have been submitted using the new catch recording service for under-10m vessels. To date 79% of vessel owners or skippers have signed up to use the app in England and the Isle of Man, and in Wales uptake is 82%.</p><p> </p><p>On 27 September 2020 the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) altered the licensing requirement for under-10 metre commercial fishing skippers to submit a catch record before landing. The alteration is a result of feedback from the catching sector and is designed to support fishermen who have expressed concerns about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. The change will enable them to complete this part of their catch record submission on landing if they choose.</p><p> </p><p>The condition says the record must be submitted before removal from point of landing to point of sale. It now allows fishermen to weigh their catch on board their vessel or on shore, ensure connectivity (or phone signal) to submit their record and get assistance from others if needed. Different ports provide different facilities, with some offering provision of scales while others do not. Fishermen are at liberty to purchase scales to assist them should they wish to do so to ensure accuracy.</p><p> </p><p>In case of connectivity problems, the catch app has been designed to be used offline to ensure no fishermen are disadvantaged by landing into ports with poor internet connections. Fishermen can complete and authorise submission of their catch record even if there is no signal where they are. It is then cached on their device to be submitted automatically once the fisherman is in an area with better connectivity.</p><p> </p><p>The alteration to the submission deadline was made in response to feedback from fishermen that was gathered through engagement during the development and user-testing of the app and website, the roll-out of the service and ongoing use of the app. MMO officers in coastal locations are engaging with fishermen on the issue to supplement guidance. It is an optional way of working for fishermen introduced in response to concerns from some about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. Fishermen are under no obligation to land their catch before submitting their record and can continue to submit the required data via the app or website before removing the fish from their vessels as they have been doing to date.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 97019 97020 97022 97023 97024 97025 question first answered 07/10/2020 09:20:10 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1238718

registered interest
date	29/09/2020
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	Fishing Catches
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the fishing license condition issued to non-sector under 10 metre vessels affecting Cat A (91/99) and Cat A limited (94/99), effective from 27 September 2020 and altering the requirement to submit a catch record from before landing to on landing, what assessment has he made of the availability of mobile phone signal or access to W-Fi in all English fishing harbours and landing areas.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	97022
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>Currently, more than 58,650 catch records have been submitted using the new catch recording service for under-10m vessels. To date 79% of vessel owners or skippers have signed up to use the app in England and the Isle of Man, and in Wales uptake is 82%.</p><p> </p><p>On 27 September 2020 the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) altered the licensing requirement for under-10 metre commercial fishing skippers to submit a catch record before landing. The alteration is a result of feedback from the catching sector and is designed to support fishermen who have expressed concerns about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. The change will enable them to complete this part of their catch record submission on landing if they choose.</p><p> </p><p>The condition says the record must be submitted before removal from point of landing to point of sale. It now allows fishermen to weigh their catch on board their vessel or on shore, ensure connectivity (or phone signal) to submit their record and get assistance from others if needed. Different ports provide different facilities, with some offering provision of scales while others do not. Fishermen are at liberty to purchase scales to assist them should they wish to do so to ensure accuracy.</p><p> </p><p>In case of connectivity problems, the catch app has been designed to be used offline to ensure no fishermen are disadvantaged by landing into ports with poor internet connections. Fishermen can complete and authorise submission of their catch record even if there is no signal where they are. It is then cached on their device to be submitted automatically once the fisherman is in an area with better connectivity.</p><p> </p><p>The alteration to the submission deadline was made in response to feedback from fishermen that was gathered through engagement during the development and user-testing of the app and website, the roll-out of the service and ongoing use of the app. MMO officers in coastal locations are engaging with fishermen on the issue to supplement guidance. It is an optional way of working for fishermen introduced in response to concerns from some about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. Fishermen are under no obligation to land their catch before submitting their record and can continue to submit the required data via the app or website before removing the fish from their vessels as they have been doing to date.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 97019 97020 97021 97023 97024 97025 question first answered 07/10/2020 09:20:10 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1238719

registered interest
date	29/09/2020
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	Fishing Catches
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the fishing license condition issued to non-sector under 10 metre vessels affecting Cat A (91/99) and Cat A limited (94/99), effective from 27 September 2020 and altering the requirement to submit a catch record from before landing to on landing, what consultation he conducted with the fishing industry before implementing that change.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	97023
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>Currently, more than 58,650 catch records have been submitted using the new catch recording service for under-10m vessels. To date 79% of vessel owners or skippers have signed up to use the app in England and the Isle of Man, and in Wales uptake is 82%.</p><p> </p><p>On 27 September 2020 the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) altered the licensing requirement for under-10 metre commercial fishing skippers to submit a catch record before landing. The alteration is a result of feedback from the catching sector and is designed to support fishermen who have expressed concerns about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. The change will enable them to complete this part of their catch record submission on landing if they choose.</p><p> </p><p>The condition says the record must be submitted before removal from point of landing to point of sale. It now allows fishermen to weigh their catch on board their vessel or on shore, ensure connectivity (or phone signal) to submit their record and get assistance from others if needed. Different ports provide different facilities, with some offering provision of scales while others do not. Fishermen are at liberty to purchase scales to assist them should they wish to do so to ensure accuracy.</p><p> </p><p>In case of connectivity problems, the catch app has been designed to be used offline to ensure no fishermen are disadvantaged by landing into ports with poor internet connections. Fishermen can complete and authorise submission of their catch record even if there is no signal where they are. It is then cached on their device to be submitted automatically once the fisherman is in an area with better connectivity.</p><p> </p><p>The alteration to the submission deadline was made in response to feedback from fishermen that was gathered through engagement during the development and user-testing of the app and website, the roll-out of the service and ongoing use of the app. MMO officers in coastal locations are engaging with fishermen on the issue to supplement guidance. It is an optional way of working for fishermen introduced in response to concerns from some about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. Fishermen are under no obligation to land their catch before submitting their record and can continue to submit the required data via the app or website before removing the fish from their vessels as they have been doing to date.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 97019 97020 97021 97022 97024 97025 question first answered 07/10/2020 09:20:10 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1238720

registered interest
date	29/09/2020
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	Fishing Catches
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, iwith reference to the fishing license condition issued to non-sector under 10 metre vessels affecting Cat A (91/99) and Cat A limited (94/99), effective from 27 September 2020 and altering the requirement to submit a catch record from before landing to on landing, what guidance his Department has issued to fishers about that requirement.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	97024
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>Currently, more than 58,650 catch records have been submitted using the new catch recording service for under-10m vessels. To date 79% of vessel owners or skippers have signed up to use the app in England and the Isle of Man, and in Wales uptake is 82%.</p><p> </p><p>On 27 September 2020 the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) altered the licensing requirement for under-10 metre commercial fishing skippers to submit a catch record before landing. The alteration is a result of feedback from the catching sector and is designed to support fishermen who have expressed concerns about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. The change will enable them to complete this part of their catch record submission on landing if they choose.</p><p> </p><p>The condition says the record must be submitted before removal from point of landing to point of sale. It now allows fishermen to weigh their catch on board their vessel or on shore, ensure connectivity (or phone signal) to submit their record and get assistance from others if needed. Different ports provide different facilities, with some offering provision of scales while others do not. Fishermen are at liberty to purchase scales to assist them should they wish to do so to ensure accuracy.</p><p> </p><p>In case of connectivity problems, the catch app has been designed to be used offline to ensure no fishermen are disadvantaged by landing into ports with poor internet connections. Fishermen can complete and authorise submission of their catch record even if there is no signal where they are. It is then cached on their device to be submitted automatically once the fisherman is in an area with better connectivity.</p><p> </p><p>The alteration to the submission deadline was made in response to feedback from fishermen that was gathered through engagement during the development and user-testing of the app and website, the roll-out of the service and ongoing use of the app. MMO officers in coastal locations are engaging with fishermen on the issue to supplement guidance. It is an optional way of working for fishermen introduced in response to concerns from some about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. Fishermen are under no obligation to land their catch before submitting their record and can continue to submit the required data via the app or website before removing the fish from their vessels as they have been doing to date.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 97019 97020 97021 97022 97023 97025 question first answered 07/10/2020 09:20:10 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1238722

registered interest
date	29/09/2020
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	Fishing Catches
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the fishing license condition issued to non-sector under 10 metre vessels affecting Cat A (91/99) and Cat A limited (94/99), effective from 27 September 2020 and altering the requirement to submit a catch record from before landing to on landing, what assessment has he made of the change in burden on fishers as a results of that alteration; what assessment he has made of the health and safety implications for fishermen and other fish quay users of that alteration; and what assessment he has made of the effect of that alteration of catch quality.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	97025
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>Currently, more than 58,650 catch records have been submitted using the new catch recording service for under-10m vessels. To date 79% of vessel owners or skippers have signed up to use the app in England and the Isle of Man, and in Wales uptake is 82%.</p><p> </p><p>On 27 September 2020 the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) altered the licensing requirement for under-10 metre commercial fishing skippers to submit a catch record before landing. The alteration is a result of feedback from the catching sector and is designed to support fishermen who have expressed concerns about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. The change will enable them to complete this part of their catch record submission on landing if they choose.</p><p> </p><p>The condition says the record must be submitted before removal from point of landing to point of sale. It now allows fishermen to weigh their catch on board their vessel or on shore, ensure connectivity (or phone signal) to submit their record and get assistance from others if needed. Different ports provide different facilities, with some offering provision of scales while others do not. Fishermen are at liberty to purchase scales to assist them should they wish to do so to ensure accuracy.</p><p> </p><p>In case of connectivity problems, the catch app has been designed to be used offline to ensure no fishermen are disadvantaged by landing into ports with poor internet connections. Fishermen can complete and authorise submission of their catch record even if there is no signal where they are. It is then cached on their device to be submitted automatically once the fisherman is in an area with better connectivity.</p><p> </p><p>The alteration to the submission deadline was made in response to feedback from fishermen that was gathered through engagement during the development and user-testing of the app and website, the roll-out of the service and ongoing use of the app. MMO officers in coastal locations are engaging with fishermen on the issue to supplement guidance. It is an optional way of working for fishermen introduced in response to concerns from some about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. Fishermen are under no obligation to land their catch before submitting their record and can continue to submit the required data via the app or website before removing the fish from their vessels as they have been doing to date.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 97019 97020 97021 97022 97023 97024 question first answered 07/10/2020 09:20:10 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1238724

registered interest
date	29/09/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Bowling: VAT
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reasons are for the exclusion of ten pin bowling businesses from the reduction in VAT for tourism and hospitality businesses.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	97026
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/10/2020 answer text <p>The temporary reduced rate of VAT was introduced on 15 July to support the cash flow and viability of over 150,000 businesses and protect 2.4 million jobs in the hospitality and tourism sectors, which have been severely affected by Covid-19.</p><p> </p><p>Hospitality for the purposes of this relief includes the supply of food and non-alcoholic beverages from restaurants, cafes, pubs and similar establishments for consumption on the premises. It also includes the supply of hot food and non-alcoholic hot beverages to take away.</p><p> </p><p>Where a bowling alley provides such hospitality, that hospitality will benefit from the reduced rate, although admission to a bowling alley itself is not eligible. Further information can be found in VAT Guidance: reduced rate for hospitality, holiday accommodation and attractions on GOV.UK: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/catering-takeaway-food-and-vat-notice-7091" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/catering-takeaway-food-and-vat-notice-7091</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 06/10/2020 15:06:57 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1237597

registered interest
date	24/09/2020
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	Sanitary Products: Plastics
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 has had with manufacturers of sanitary products on reducing the plastic content of those products.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	95216
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2020 answer text <p>The UK collects data on the quantity and type of marine litter in our waters, including data on seafloor litter, floating litter and beach litter, following methods agreed through the OSPAR Convention’s monitoring and assessment programmes. This includes data on sanitary products. Data are available through the Marine Online Assessment Tool: <a href="https://moat.cefas.co.uk/" target="_blank">https://moat.cefas.co.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Cotton buds are recorded as a sanitary product and feature as a top ten item recorded on some UK beaches. Since 1 October this year there has been a ban on the supply of plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers in England, with exemptions in place to ensure disabled people and those with medical conditions that require straws can continue to access them.</p><p> </p><p>We are seeking new powers in our landmark Environment Bill to drive the market towards more sustainable products, including powers to introduce ecodesign requirements and to require retailers to charge for single-use plastic items.</p><p> </p><p>Plastic does, however, have an important role to play in many products due to its strength and sterility. We must therefore think carefully about how we solve the problems arising from plastic waste in order to avoid unintended consequences. We regularly meet with producers, including of sanitary products, to discuss the overall sustainability of their products, and will continue to do so.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 95217 question first answered 02/10/2020 14:08:58 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1237598

registered interest
date	24/09/2020
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	Sanitary Products: Plastics
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 estimate he has made of the contribution of sanitary products to plastic pollution in UK waters.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	95217
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2020 answer text <p>The UK collects data on the quantity and type of marine litter in our waters, including data on seafloor litter, floating litter and beach litter, following methods agreed through the OSPAR Convention’s monitoring and assessment programmes. This includes data on sanitary products. Data are available through the Marine Online Assessment Tool: <a href="https://moat.cefas.co.uk/" target="_blank">https://moat.cefas.co.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Cotton buds are recorded as a sanitary product and feature as a top ten item recorded on some UK beaches. Since 1 October this year there has been a ban on the supply of plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers in England, with exemptions in place to ensure disabled people and those with medical conditions that require straws can continue to access them.</p><p> </p><p>We are seeking new powers in our landmark Environment Bill to drive the market towards more sustainable products, including powers to introduce ecodesign requirements and to require retailers to charge for single-use plastic items.</p><p> </p><p>Plastic does, however, have an important role to play in many products due to its strength and sterility. We must therefore think carefully about how we solve the problems arising from plastic waste in order to avoid unintended consequences. We regularly meet with producers, including of sanitary products, to discuss the overall sustainability of their products, and will continue to do so.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 95216 question first answered 02/10/2020 14:08:58 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard