PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE OCEANS

Early day motion 157, tabled 11 July 2017 by Roger Godsiff (Labour). Signed by 23 members.

That this House notes with concern that more than 8 million tons of plastic waste are dumped in the oceans every year; further notes that this pollution causes huge damage to ocean ecosystems, including fish, marine mammals and seabirds; notes that plastics in the ocean produce chemicals which are dangerous to marine life and, if ingested via seafood, also dangerous to humans; notes that even tiny remote islands such as Henderson Island have been found to be polluted with nearly 38 million pieces of plastic; believes that urgent action is required to stop this pollution; calls for an end to single use plastics and a requirement for all plastic packaging of products sold in the UK to be made of recycled plastic and fully recyclable; notes that the EU is currently drawing up plans for a circular economy which would require manufacturers to take more responsibility for recycling and reusing plastics; further calls on the Government to develop a similar strategy; and calls on the Government to ensure that, after Brexit, the UK's environmental standards remain at least as high as those of the EU.

Signatures by party: Labour 9, Scottish National Party 4, DUP 3, Labour/Co-operative 2, Liberal Democrat 2, Conservative 1, Green 1, Independent 1.