Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any potential problems resulting from the release into the environment of nano and other plastic particles as a consequence of plastic materials being used as part of road surfacing materials.

The use of plastic as a component in road surfacing is not widespread. Officials at the Department for Transport are aware that it has only been used in a small proportion of England’s strategic road network for high friction surfacing materials, and only on one short stretch of public road in England. Therefore, the Government has not made any assessment to date of any potential problems or nano pollution from the use of plastic in roads.

Officials have been in discussion with Cumbria County Council who are trialling the use of plastic in their road resurfacing and the company that supplies the material. They will continue to monitor the situation and any outcomes, positive or negative, from the trial currently taking place.