Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Morgan Excerpts

Tuesday 25th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

9. What diplomatic steps the Government are taking to lead the international effort to tackle climate change.

[Stephen Morgan (Portsmouth South) (Lab)]

14. What recent progress the Government have made on tackling climate change through international co-operation.

[Bim Afolami (Hitchin and Harpenden) (Con)]

15. What diplomatic steps the Government are taking to lead the international effort to tackle climate change.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Hunt]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that we need to focus on young people, and I am sure there will be a youth event if we are successful in our bid to host COP 26, but in some ways I want to have an oldies event as well, because I want young people to see that older generations really do take this issue seriously. Their concern is that we are not as committed to it as they are, and we must prove them wrong.

[Stephen Morgan]

The UK is now exporting more waste to countries with the highest levels of ocean plastic pollution. The ban on plastic exports to China has led to the UK offloading its waste on nations with questionable records on marine pollution. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to reduce environmentally costly plastic exports?

[Mr Hunt]

I agree with the hon. Gentleman that the scenes in Malaysia and other parts of the world of plastic waste that has often come from us are not acceptable. All I can do is salute the extraordinary work done by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in championing an end to plastics in the ocean. The international leadership he has shown is extraordinary.