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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of restrictions on the use of single-use plastic.

Defra officials are in the process of conducting a Post Implementation Review of the Environmental Regulations 2020, which includes the bans and restrictions on plastic straws, stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds. This is due to be published in October 2025. The department has also commissioned a report to evaluate the policies under the Environmental Regulations 2023.

Defra officials are working with trading standards officers in local authorities, online platforms, and relevant businesses to ensure restrictions are effective and that any breaches of the legislation are being enforced. Breaches in legislation are the responsibility of local authorities.