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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of microplastic fibres on the world's oceans.

It is clear that microplastics in various forms, including microfibres, are a significant and prevalent source of marine litter around the world.

As part of the enhanced chemicals programme the Environment Agency will look more at the contribution of sewage treatment to microplastic. As with many chemicals the most effective solution is to reduce the sources of plastic getting into drainage systems in the first place.