AQW 28142/17-22

Ms Clare Bailey
Green Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 17/01/2022
Answered On Date: 31/01/2022
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for the expected transposition date for the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive.

Answer:

The overuse of single-use plastics concerns me greatly but the Northern Ireland Protocol is an agreement between the UK Government and the European Union and the protocol obligations in relation to transposing the EU Single-use Plastic Directive are obligations for the UK Government to deliver.

Unfortunately, the 1st January transposition deadline has now passed but I have written twice to the Defra Secretary of State, George Eustice, to remind him of this obligation and most recently in December 2021 to ask the UK Government for confirmation of their plans and to provide an update for NI businesses.

I also informed Secretary of State Eustice that my officials were ready to offer advice and views to assist his officials with this task as the Defra work will complement the other actions I am already taking to address plastic pollution. I await the Secretary of State’s response.