Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Pawsey and Damien Moore

Thursday 15th October 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to reduce plastic pollution.

[Damien Moore (Southport) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to reduce plastic pollution.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Rebecca Pow)]

We are committed to tackling plastic pollution. We introduced a microbeads ban and reduced single-use plastic carrier bag usage by 95% in main supermarkets. We are also increasing the single-use carrier bag charge to 10p and extending it to all retailers. We restricted the supply of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds the other day, and we are seeking further powers in the Environment Bill to charge for single-use plastic items, making recycling more consistent, and we will be reforming packaging waste regulations.