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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will assess the environmental impact of the use of microplastics in industrial processes.

On Friday 21st July, the Government published the summary of responses to our consultation on plans to ban the manufacture and sale of cosmetics and personal care products containing microbeads, which may cause harm to the marine environment. We will introduce legislation later this year. The consultation also asked for evidence on other sources of marine plastic pollution. We will use the responses to develop future UK action to protect the marine environment.