WQ81319 (e) Tabled on 19/10/2020

What steps will the Minister take following the finding by the Anglia Ruskin University that glitter has a negative impact on the environment?

Answered by Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs | Answered on 29/10/2020

Phasing out the use of unnecessary single use plastic products is one of my priorities. I welcome new evidence to inform our policy in this area. My officials will consider the findings of the Anglia Ruskin University as we consider responses to our Reducing Single Use Plastic consultation. This consultation closed on 22 October. We will publish our proposals for next steps in due course and in the interim, we will continue to work with retail and manufacturing sectors to support voluntary action to remove harmful single use plastics and products from the supply chain.

Should the consultation show strong support for our proposals to ban the sale of all nine single-use plastics, I would expect to bring forward measures which go beyond those so far implemented in England. However, the UK Internal Market Bill, now before Parliament, could drastically undermine the Senedd’s ability to take such measures and I would hope all Members of the Senedd would unite in rejecting this proposed hollowing out of our powers.