Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Mak Excerpts

Thursday 8th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Douglas Ross (Moray) (Con)]

7. What steps the Government are taking to improve the marine environment.

[Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

9. What steps the Government are taking to improve the marine environment.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

18. What steps the Government are taking to improve the marine environment.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Coffey]

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reinforced in the Mansion House speech, we will be leaving the common fisheries policy next year when we leave the European Union, and that gives us an opportunity as an independent coastal state to manage sustainably the fisheries that we have.

[Alan Mak]

The Final Straw Solent is a new community group in my constituency whose objective is to reduce plastic use and clean up our local coastlines. Will the Minister join me in congratulating that group on its work and encourage more community groups like it to continue protecting and improving our marine environment?

[Dr Coffey]

I commend the organisers of the Final Straw Solent. It matters that we have local action. Of course, we want to have wider action to stop people dropping their litter in the first place. On International Women’s Day, we should also look across the other side of the Solent to Dame Ellen MacArthur, who is best known for her wonderful sailing record but should also be known as a true champion for the environment. Through her foundation, she is doing a lot of work to make sure we reduce our use of plastics and improve the circular economy.