North East Herts MP Sir Oliver Heald has received replies from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to two parliamentary questions about microplastics which are below.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (188171):
Question:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will take steps to work with water companies to explore (a) the management of microplastics in sewage sludge and (b) options for protecting chalk streams; and if she will make a statement. (188171)
Tabled on: 07 June 2023
Answer:
Rebecca Pow:
Last year the Government launched the most ambitious plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows in water company history. The Environment Agency are currently developing a microplastics monitoring strategy for river all catchments in England. The Government has prioritised chalk streams in policy and legislation. In the Plan for Water, we reaffirmed our commitment to protecting chalk streams and recognised them as having a special natural heritage.
The answer was submitted on 23 Jun 2023 at 15:37.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (188172):
Question:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps to improve methods of measuring the (a) amount and (b) types of (i) microplastic and (ii) microfibres in chalk streams; and if she will make a statement. (188172)
Tabled on: 07 June 2023
Answer:
Rebecca Pow:
The Environment Agency are currently developing a microplastics monitoring strategy for all river catchments in England. The Government has prioritised chalk streams in policy and legislation. In the Plan for Water, we have reaffirmed our commitment to protecting chalk streams and recognised them as having a special natural heritage.
The answer was submitted on 23 Jun 2023 at 15:41.
Commenting, Sir Oliver said: “I am pleased that the government are taking steps to monitor microplastics in our rivers to help protect our precious chalk streams.”