Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Department for International Development programmes for development assistance must include measures to limit the global spread of plastic waste and other waste that degrades the environment.

The UK Government is a global leader in protecting oceans and marine life and has already taken significant steps to tackle plastic waste (such as the carrier bag charge and ban on microbeads in rinse-off products).

The Department for International Development already funds programmes that include measures to limit the global spread of plastic waste and other waste that degrades the environment, for example through the Global Environment Facility. The Global Environment Facility funds the Addressing Marine Plastics programme alongside other international waters, chemicals and waste programming. The Department is currently working with other parts of government to consider how to extend the impact of our work in this area.

In addition, Department for International Development officials are required to identify environmental risks associated with each programme, and ensure that they are managed. The guidance does not explicitly cover plastic waste, but is intended to include the full range of environmental risks relevant to each programme.