Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of banning sky lanterns.

An assessment of sky-lanterns was carried out in 2023.

The research examined the risks that sky lanterns, and other items including helium balloons, pose to the environment. The research suggests the risks posed by sky lanterns and helium balloons remain low. It also explored a ban on the sale of sky lanterns and indicated this would result in lost economic activity. The research report is available at: https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21420. Based on this assessment, we therefore consider existing controls to be sufficient.

Local authorities already have powers to apply local controls to restrict or ban the use of sky lanterns or balloons on council or public land and, according to stakeholders, around 150 councils have already introduced a ban.

We also support voluntary initiatives aimed at minimising the risks associated with sky lanterns. Initiatives include a voluntary Code of Practice for sky lanterns developed by industry with Government support to ensure that they are manufactured to be safe and are sold responsibly.