Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on (a) the impact of tyre wear on and (b) steps the Government is taking to reduce levels of microplastics in the ocean.

The development of regulations to limit emissions from tyre wear depends on the development of an internationally recognised test procedure for measuring them. This issue is being examined by the UN ECE Particle Measurement Programme (PMP), which includes DfT officials, other international governments, and the automotive industry. DfT is one of the founders of PMP and has played a leading role since its inception.

To support the work of the PMP group, DfT commissioned a 3-year research project in February 2021 aimed at understanding better the measurement techniques, material properties and control parameters of non-exhaust emissions from road vehicles, which include tyre wear emissions. DfT and Defra officials collaborated in the development of the research programme and will collaborate further on the outcomes of the project, which will inform policy and legislation aiming at reducing these emissions on a domestic and international level.

Furthermore, Government is continuing to invest through Innovate UK grants in emerging technologies which reduce emissions from tyre wear.