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To ask His Majesty's Government what additional steps they plan to take following the spillage of an estimated 1 billion nurdles into the River Tyne on 19 July, in particular the steps they plan to take to protect environmentally sensitive areas such as Marsden Bay.
To ask His Majesty's Government what additional steps they plan to take following the spillage of an estimated 1 billion nurdles into the River Tyne on 19 July, in particular the steps they plan to take to protect environmentally sensitive areas such as Marsden Bay.
Through a multi-agency effort, this Government is working closely with a range of partners to monitor and respond to the nurdle spill in the River Tyne. Clean-up operations are underway, with particular attention being given to environmentally sensitive locations, including Marsden Bay.
This briefing provides an overview of the revised packaging extended producer responsibility (pEPR) scheme and fees.
This briefing provides an overview of the revised packaging extended producer responsibility (pEPR) scheme and fees.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of conducting a formal review of mandatory testing, clearer labelling and targeted restrictions on high-exposure plastic baby products.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of conducting a formal review of mandatory testing, clearer labelling and targeted restrictions on high-exposure plastic baby products.
The Government takes the safety of baby products seriously and has robust regulations requiring that all products placed on the UK market are safe, with specific controls addressing chemical exposure from plastic baby products. These requirements are kept under review.
The Government's consultation on reforming the core Product Safety Framework closed on 23 June 2026. We are considering all feedback received including any evidence presented on the regulation of these products. The Government also launched a Call for Evidence on toy safety on 6 July, to ensure protections keep pace with emerging risks.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to correspondence reference MC2026/09208/NA, what assessment he has made of the potential impact pEPR rules being for glass distributors on (a) costs to consumers and (b) levels of plastic packaging by those distributors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to correspondence reference MC2026/09208/NA, what assessment he has made of the potential impact pEPR rules being for glass distributors on (a) costs to consumers and (b) levels of plastic packaging by those distributors.
The Government published its October 2024 assessment of the impact of introducing Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging. It assessed packaging producers as a whole, including consumer-price impacts, but did not assess glass distributors specifically. It estimated the overall inflationary impact to be small, with a central estimate of 0.07% on CPI.
The Department has not made a specific assessment of impacts on levels of plastic packaging used by glass distributors. From 2026, pEPR fees are modulated so less recyclable packaging incurs higher fees and more recyclable packaging lower fees. Defra continues to engage with industry stakeholders including the glass sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps they are taking to tackle plastic pollution.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps they are taking to tackle plastic pollution.
We have several restrictions on unnecessary single-use plastic products, including a ban on the supply of single-use vapes and a ban on supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic in England, marking a major step forward in tackling the plastic and microplastic pollution that harms our waterways.
The UK is working internationally to agree a new international, legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution and is committed to working with a range of other countries to secure an agreement at the next round of negotiations in March 2027.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UK Small Island Developing States strategy 2026 to 2030, published on13 January 2026, what steps she is taking to protect the British Overseas Territories from plastic pollution.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UK Small Island Developing States strategy 2026 to 2030, published on13 January 2026, what steps she is taking to protect the British Overseas Territories from plastic pollution.
The UK is committed to strengthening the economic resilience of the Overseas Territories (OTs), including the resilience of critical infrastructure.
We support the OTs to diversify their economies, strengthen their fiscal governance, and invest in the upgrade and maintenance of critical infrastructure. Major investments in recent years include completion of the Rupert's Bay port on Saint Helena and Road Bay jetty in Anguilla, support for new telecommunications infrastructure on Ascension Island, and significant progress in construction of a new hospital and solar energy farm in Montserrat.
The UK also provides targeted environmental support to the OTs through the Blue Belt Programme, including in relation to plastic pollution. We are also continuing to work closely with our partners in the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, and with other countries, to reach an ambitious agreement that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken with local stakeholders to increase the proportion of plastic waste recycled in Slough.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken with local stakeholders to increase the proportion of plastic waste recycled in Slough.
The Simpler Recycling reforms ensure that across England, people can recycle the same materials, including plastic, whether at home, work or school.
These changes are already in force for workplaces with 10 or more full time employees and came into effect for households in England from 31 March 2026. Simpler Recycling will apply to micro-firms (workplaces with fewer than 10 employees) from 31 March 2027.
We have provided a suite of resources and guidance on gov.uk to assist local stakeholders in implementing the new requirements. We continue to engage with stakeholders to support successful delivery of the reforms.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the volume of plastic packaging produced for uncut (a) fruit and (b) vegetables where data is available in the past year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the volume of plastic packaging produced for uncut (a) fruit and (b) vegetables where data is available in the past year.
The department does not hold data on, nor has it made an estimate of, the volume of plastic packaging used specifically for uncut fruit and uncut vegetables in the last year. Packaging data reported under the UK’s producer responsibility system is collected by packaging category and material type, rather than by individual food products, and is therefore not available at this level of detail.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to review evidence on chemical exposure from plastic baby products, including feeding bottles, dummies and teethers; and if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the regulatory framework for those products.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to review evidence on chemical exposure from plastic baby products, including feeding bottles, dummies and teethers; and if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the regulatory framework for those products.
The Government takes the safety of baby products seriously and has robust regulations in place requiring that all products placed on the UK market are safe. Specific rules exist under product safety and chemicals regulations, to address chemical exposure from plastic baby products, and these are kept under review.
More generally, the Government's consultation on reforming the core Product Safety Framework closed on 23 June 2026, and we will be considering all feedback received as part of that process, including any evidence presented on the regulation of these products.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a ban on the import and sale of plastic flying rings.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a ban on the import and sale of plastic flying rings.
Tackling marine litter and plastic pollution is a priority for the Government, which is why we are working domestically and internationally to implement measures that will prevent plastic and other litter from reaching the ocean in the first place.
The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the impact of plastic flying rings on seal populations. However, investigations of seal strandings conducted through the Government-funded Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) record and assess causes of seal injury and mortality, including cases involving marine litter. There have been no recorded instances of seal fatalities due to flying rings since routine seal mortality investigations were added into the CSIP in 2022.
Defra's Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code for England provides guidance on how to act responsibly around marine wildlife when visiting the coast, including the need for the public to take all litter home with them.
We would encourage anyone who sees a sick, injured or entangled seal to contact the British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546. To report a dead seal, contact the CSIP on 0800 652 0333.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of plastic flying rings on seal populations.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of plastic flying rings on seal populations.
Tackling marine litter and plastic pollution is a priority for the Government, which is why we are working domestically and internationally to implement measures that will prevent plastic and other litter from reaching the ocean in the first place.
The Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the impact of plastic flying rings on seal populations. However, investigations of seal strandings conducted through the Government-funded Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) record and assess causes of seal injury and mortality, including cases involving marine litter. There have been no recorded instances of seal fatalities due to flying rings since routine seal mortality investigations were added into the CSIP in 2022.
Defra's Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code for England provides guidance on how to act responsibly around marine wildlife when visiting the coast, including the need for the public to take all litter home with them.
We would encourage anyone who sees a sick, injured or entangled seal to contact the British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546. To report a dead seal, contact the CSIP on 0800 652 0333.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help reduce environmental harm caused by glass‑reinforced plastic pollution in protected landscapes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help reduce environmental harm caused by glass‑reinforced plastic pollution in protected landscapes.
Waste producers should ensure that they abide by appropriate regulations and the Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice when disposing of glass reinforced plastic waste. Appropriate management of waste in accordance with relevant legislation will ensure that risks of harm to the environment and human health are minimised.
Agreed to on question.
Agreed to on question.
I am very grateful that you have granted tonight’s debate, Madam Deputy Speaker, and that we have so much time to discuss this important issue.
Packaging extended producer responsibility, which I will call EPR, is a policy that genuinely has a laudable goal: the move towards a circular economy, in which...
I am very grateful that you have granted tonight’s debate, Madam Deputy Speaker, and that we have so much time to discuss this important issue.
Packaging extended producer responsibility, which I will call EPR, is a policy that genuinely has a laudable goal: the move towards a circular economy, in which...
I appreciate the hon. Lady giving way so early in her speech, because I have to run to a Delegated Legislation Committee. I agree with all the points she is making, but would she talk later about the impact on the pub trade? This policy will hit the pub trade...
I appreciate the hon. Lady giving way so early in her speech, because I have to run to a Delegated Legislation Committee. I agree with all the points she is making, but would she talk later about the impact on the pub trade? This policy will hit the pub trade...
I will indeed be talking about the pub industry. I thank all the Members who have been campaigning so hard on this particular point for the last two years. The hon. Member will need to read the speech afterwards—it will be brilliant. We will try to protect our hospitality industry.
While...
I will indeed be talking about the pub industry. I thank all the Members who have been campaigning so hard on this particular point for the last two years. The hon. Member will need to read the speech afterwards—it will be brilliant. We will try to protect our hospitality industry.
While...
A plethora of interventions, but I have to go to the sister at the back first.
A plethora of interventions, but I have to go to the sister at the back first.
In my constituency, I also have a phenomenal glass manufacturer, called Encirc. It has three sites across the UK, employing over 2,000 people. It is unfairly penalised by this tax, because it is about weight. As the hon. Lady has pointed out, this is encouraging manufacturers of things like tonic...
In my constituency, I also have a phenomenal glass manufacturer, called Encirc. It has three sites across the UK, employing over 2,000 people. It is unfairly penalised by this tax, because it is about weight. As the hon. Lady has pointed out, this is encouraging manufacturers of things like tonic...
I hope to amplify the hon. Lady’s points later in my speech. Glass is not just another packaging material; it is infinitely recyclable.
I hope to amplify the hon. Lady’s points later in my speech. Glass is not just another packaging material; it is infinitely recyclable.