Safeguarding is an essential aspect of abortion care, and the Department\u2019s Required Standard Operating Procedures (RSOPs) for approved independent sector abortion providers in England include the requirement that all abortion providers have effective arrangements in place to safeguard vulnerable women accessing home-use early medical abortion who may be experiencing coercion to end a pregnancy. Providers must ensure that all staff are trained in recognising the signs of potential abuse and coercion and know how to respond.<\/p>
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspects against all the Department\u2019s RSOPs when it inspects an independent sector provider, and safeguarding procedures are included in the CQC\u2019s Termination of Pregnancy inspection framework as areas to be considered during an inspection.<\/p>
As commissioners of abortion care, NHS England and integrated care boards are responsible for ensuring abortion providers have appropriately trained staff to meet safeguarding requirements.<\/p>
The standard of training for health care professionals is the responsibility of the health care independent statutory regulatory bodies who set the outcome standards expected at undergraduate level and approve courses. Higher Education institutions write and teach the curricula content that enables their students to meet the regulators outcome standards. Whilst not all curricula may necessarily highlight a specific condition, they all emphasise the skills and approaches a health care practitioner must develop to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients, including for abortion.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4492", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Maria Caulfield"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Maria Caulfield"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "525"} , {"_value" : "530"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-14T10:57:29.397Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Abortion: Training"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what training is required for NHS medical staff working in abortion provision to help ensure that they (a) can identify potential pressure and coercion and (b) understand its impact on informed consent.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4793", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Scott Benton"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Blackpool South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Scott Benton"} ], "uin" : "529"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1667721", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1667721/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Safeguarding is an essential aspect of abortion care, and the Department\u2019s Required Standard Operating Procedures (RSOPs) for approved independent sector abortion providers in England include the requirement that all abortion providers have effective arrangements in place to safeguard vulnerable women accessing home-use early medical abortion who may be experiencing coercion to end a pregnancy. Providers must ensure that all staff are trained in recognising the signs of potential abuse and coercion and know how to respond.<\/p>
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspects against all the Department\u2019s RSOPs when it inspects an independent sector provider, and safeguarding procedures are included in the CQC\u2019s Termination of Pregnancy inspection framework as areas to be considered during an inspection.<\/p>
As commissioners of abortion care, NHS England and integrated care boards are responsible for ensuring abortion providers have appropriately trained staff to meet safeguarding requirements.<\/p>
The standard of training for health care professionals is the responsibility of the health care independent statutory regulatory bodies who set the outcome standards expected at undergraduate level and approve courses. Higher Education institutions write and teach the curricula content that enables their students to meet the regulators outcome standards. Whilst not all curricula may necessarily highlight a specific condition, they all emphasise the skills and approaches a health care practitioner must develop to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients, including for abortion.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4492", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Maria Caulfield"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Maria Caulfield"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "525"} , {"_value" : "529"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-14T10:57:29.443Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Abortion"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that vulnerable women are protected from (a) coercion and (b) other pressure to have an abortion.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4793", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Scott Benton"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Blackpool South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Scott Benton"} ], "uin" : "530"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461281", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461281/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I wrote to the hon. Member on 8th March about the energy bills rebate (RL34520); on 17th March about the rising cost of energy bills (RL35234); on 18th March about the energy rebate scheme and the winter fuel allowance (RL32303); and on 12th April about heating oil (RL36156). Further copies of those responses have been sent to your office.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department apologises for the delay in replying to the hon. Member\u2019s enquiry of 3rd<\/sup> March (RL36091), and a response will be issued shortly.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chelsea and Fulham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Greg Hands"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-05-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "525"}
, {"_value" : "526"}
, {"_value" : "533"}
, {"_value" : "534"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-05-18T08:49:34.087Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-05-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Members: Correspondence"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to respond to the enquiry of 2 March 2022 from the hon. Member for High Peak, reference RL34520.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4852", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Largan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "High Peak"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Robert Largan"}
], "uin" : "524"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461284", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461284/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I wrote to the hon. Member on 8th March about the energy bills rebate (RL34520); on 17th March about the rising cost of energy bills (RL35234); on 18th March about the energy rebate scheme and the winter fuel allowance (RL32303); and on 12th April about heating oil (RL36156). Further copies of those responses have been sent to your office.<\/p> <\/p> The Department apologises for the delay in replying to the hon. Member\u2019s enquiry of 3rd<\/sup> March (RL36091), and a response will be issued shortly.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chelsea and Fulham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Greg Hands"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-05-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "524"}
, {"_value" : "525"}
, {"_value" : "533"}
, {"_value" : "534"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-05-18T08:49:34.94Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-05-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Members: Correspondence"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to respond to the enquiry from the hon. Member for High Peak dated 4 March 2022, reference RL35234.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4852", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Largan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "High Peak"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Robert Largan"}
], "uin" : "526"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461291", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461291/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I wrote to the hon. Member on 8th March about the energy bills rebate (RL34520); on 17th March about the rising cost of energy bills (RL35234); on 18th March about the energy rebate scheme and the winter fuel allowance (RL32303); and on 12th April about heating oil (RL36156). Further copies of those responses have been sent to your office.<\/p> <\/p> The Department apologises for the delay in replying to the hon. Member\u2019s enquiry of 3rd<\/sup> March (RL36091), and a response will be issued shortly.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chelsea and Fulham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Greg Hands"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-05-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "524"}
, {"_value" : "525"}
, {"_value" : "526"}
, {"_value" : "534"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-05-18T08:49:34.983Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-05-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Members: Correspondence"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to respond to the enquiry from the hon. Member for High Peak dated 15 March 2022, reference RL36156.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4852", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Largan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "High Peak"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Robert Largan"}
], "uin" : "533"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461300", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461300/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I wrote to the hon. Member on 8th March about the energy bills rebate (RL34520); on 17th March about the rising cost of energy bills (RL35234); on 18th March about the energy rebate scheme and the winter fuel allowance (RL32303); and on 12th April about heating oil (RL36156). Further copies of those responses have been sent to your office.<\/p> <\/p> The Department apologises for the delay in replying to the hon. Member\u2019s enquiry of 3rd<\/sup> March (RL36091), and a response will be issued shortly.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1526", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Hands"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chelsea and Fulham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Greg Hands"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-05-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "524"}
, {"_value" : "525"}
, {"_value" : "526"}
, {"_value" : "533"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-05-18T08:49:35.017Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-05-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Members: Correspondence"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to respond to the enquiry from the hon. Member for High Peak dated 3 March 2022, reference RL36091.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4852", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robert Largan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "High Peak"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Robert Largan"}
], "uin" : "534"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1177619", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1177619/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The final report providing advice to clinical commissioning groups and local authorities on the use of Section 140 of the Mental Health Act 1983 will be published in the next few months.<\/p> The report has been prepared by the independent review of the Mental Health Act and published in December 2018, which recommended that guidance should be issued to support National Health Service commissioners to discharge their statutory duties under Section 40 more effectively and consistently.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1481", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ms Nadine Dorries"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Bedfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Ms Nadine Dorries"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "525"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-24T16:32:06.097Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to reports in the Health Service journal, published 6 February 2020, when his Department plans to publish its report on the use of Section 140 of the Mental Health Act 1983 by the NHS.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1588", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Barbara Keeley"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worsley and Eccles South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Barbara Keeley"}
], "uin" : "524"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1149191", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1149191/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Resources and Waste Strategy analysed the challenges currently facing the recycling industry in this country, setting out how we would tackle these challenges. Building on commitments in the Strategy we launched a consultation earlier this year on reforming the packaging producer responsibility system, as part of that consultation the Government proposed a mandatory UK-wide labelling system that provides clear information to help people to recycle. Following strong support for the proposal from consultation respondents, the Government is minded to take forward a mandatory labelling scheme subject to further analysis and legal considerations. Defra officials are exploring how a mandatory labelling scheme can address consumer confusion about what to do with compostable packaging. The consultation closed on 13 May and the summary of responses and next steps can be found via the below link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/packaging-waste-changing-the-uk-producer-responsibility-system-for-packaging-waste<\/a><\/p> <\/p> The Government recognises that innovation into compostable and biodegradable plastics could help reduce the environmental impacts of plastics if they are disposed of in the right way. However, this is often not the case. If these plastics are put in the domestic waste bin, for example, they are likely to end up in landfill and can break down to release powerful greenhouse gases, such as methane. If mistakenly recycled with other plastics, they have the potential to damage the quality of the new products made from the recycled plastic. Furthermore, concerns persist that plastics which are claimed to be biodegradable, if littered or otherwise released into the environment in an uncontrolled way, may not degrade quickly or at all, and they can only be composted if they meet relevant standards.<\/p> <\/p> As a consequence of these concerns, the Government published a call for evidence in July 2019 to help consider the development of standards or certification criteria for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics as well as to better understand their effects on the environment and our current waste system. The call for evidence closed on the 14 October 2019 and we are currently analysing the responses received to inform future policy. We currently do not have plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the matter of requiring any form of plastic packaging to be compostable.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4522", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rebecca Pow"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Taunton Deane"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rebecca Pow"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "525"}
, {"_value" : "526"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-22T14:39:28.583Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory and consistent (a) UK-wide logo and (b) on pack information for compostable food packaging; and what plans her Department has to introduce such a policy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4056", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nic Dakin"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Scunthorpe"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Nic Dakin"}
], "uin" : "524"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1149193", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1149193/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Resources and Waste Strategy analysed the challenges currently facing the recycling industry in this country, setting out how we would tackle these challenges. Building on commitments in the Strategy we launched a consultation earlier this year on reforming the packaging producer responsibility system, as part of that consultation the Government proposed a mandatory UK-wide labelling system that provides clear information to help people to recycle. Following strong support for the proposal from consultation respondents, the Government is minded to take forward a mandatory labelling scheme subject to further analysis and legal considerations. Defra officials are exploring how a mandatory labelling scheme can address consumer confusion about what to do with compostable packaging. The consultation closed on 13 May and the summary of responses and next steps can be found via the below link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/packaging-waste-changing-the-uk-producer-responsibility-system-for-packaging-waste<\/a><\/p> <\/p> The Government recognises that innovation into compostable and biodegradable plastics could help reduce the environmental impacts of plastics if they are disposed of in the right way. However, this is often not the case. If these plastics are put in the domestic waste bin, for example, they are likely to end up in landfill and can break down to release powerful greenhouse gases, such as methane. If mistakenly recycled with other plastics, they have the potential to damage the quality of the new products made from the recycled plastic. Furthermore, concerns persist that plastics which are claimed to be biodegradable, if littered or otherwise released into the environment in an uncontrolled way, may not degrade quickly or at all, and they can only be composted if they meet relevant standards.<\/p> <\/p> As a consequence of these concerns, the Government published a call for evidence in July 2019 to help consider the development of standards or certification criteria for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics as well as to better understand their effects on the environment and our current waste system. The call for evidence closed on the 14 October 2019 and we are currently analysing the responses received to inform future policy. We currently do not have plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the matter of requiring any form of plastic packaging to be compostable.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4522", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rebecca Pow"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Taunton Deane"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rebecca Pow"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "524"}
, {"_value" : "525"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-22T14:39:28.69Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Food: Packaging"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to require that specific packaging items must be compostable; and whether she has any plans to do so.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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