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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department made an assessment of the effect of the ban on disposable plastic straws on disabled people.

A recent study indicated that up to 8.5 billion plastic straws are used and thrown away annually in the UK. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in April, the Prime Minister announced that subject to a consultation to be launched by Defra later this year, there will be a ban on the sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in England. We will also propose excluding plastic straws for medical reasons. Policy proposals will be subject to an impact assessment.

Defra is in the process of developing the Consultation and as part of that, we are keen that we get the exemption and the overall approach absolutely right. We are aware that there are a number of vital uses for plastics straws for both elderly and disabled people, which is why we made clear the need for an exemption from the outset.

We are reaching out to all stakeholders in general, including Devolved Administrations but in particular, disability charities and other groups to talk through the policy implications and ensure their concerns are addressed.