POLLUTION ON BEACHES

Early day motion 495, tabled 8 March 2000 by Paul Marsden (Labour). Signed by 40 members.

That this House welcomes the Marine Conservation Society's annual report, Beachwatch 99; congratulates the 1,500 volunteers who took part in beach surveys that covered 171 beaches, covering 92.8 km of coastline in the United Kingdom and Channel Islands; notes that 1,913 pieces of litter were found per kilometre, weighing 11.6 tonnes, including in total 11,000 crisp and sweet packets, 9,000 cigarette ends and an assortment of other objects; recognises that the total litter found was almost double the level found in 1993 although the level over the previous year was slightly down; is greatly alarmed that tens of thousands of birds, fish and other marine life are killed by litter every year; urges the Government to encourage people, especially tourists, to take rubbish home and properly dispose of it; and calls upon the Government to give more support to local authorities to keep beaches clean and enforce anti-litter laws.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Liberal Democrat 5, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 1.