The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Baroness Hayman of Ullock) (Lab)

My Lords, I am grateful to noble Lords who have contributed to today’s debate. There is clearly strength of feeling in the concerns around microplastics and the increasing problems that we are starting to see that they are causing. These are important perspectives and the Government absolutely recognise the legitimacy of the concerns that underpin them, so I pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Randall, for bringing forward this Bill and for clearly laying out the concerns about microfibres, particularly in clothing and textiles. The Government recognise the benefits of minimising pollutants at source. To tackle the issue of microplastic pollution in our waterways, we have already taken some action. We have banned wet wipes containing plastic, and that was built on a previous ban on microbeads in products. Those actions have marked a major step forward. Particular issues around wastewater were raised. The noble Lord, Lord Randall, talked about microplastics entering the sewerage system. We as a Government are committed to taking a systematic approach to tackling issues with drainage and wastewater, and that includes a real focus on tackling the root causes of sewage pollution. In England, wastewater treatment works remove up to 99% of microplastics, but we want to ensure that legislation, regulatory mechanisms and funding streams support the delivery of solutions. The Government also recognise the importance of building a strong evidence base to understand pollutant sources, impacts and of course the most effective interventions to protect human health and the environment. In 2025, Defra finalised a research project on microplastics. The project assessed the impacts of intentionally added microplastics on the environment and human health. Defra is currently considering the results of this important analysis in order to inform our next steps. The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade leads on requirements relating to washing machine product standards, so we work closely together across the departments to understand the cost impacts of applying these filters. That needs to be balanced against the environmental harm that is caused. Evidence that was presented to Defra in 2020 indicated variable performances of filters in trapping microplastics, as well as a range of costs associated with installing them in or outside new machines. However, I would very much welcome new evidence to assess the current state of filter technology. Recommendations have been made to industry to conduct a public willingness to pay survey, considering the cost of living challenges that we are currently undergoing, and to investigate and assess the suitability, feasibility, management, disposal and costs of recycling washing machine filters and the microplastics that are captured by those filters. Before introducing any new legislation, we need to ensure that the evidence is robust and fully reviewed. For example, it must be clear that the product has a significant environmental impact and that any new requirements would not entail excessive costs or impact on product functionality. Filters may well form part of the solution, but there are uncertainties around performance, as well as cost, maintenance and disposal of captured fibres. We will consider product design, producer responsibility and end-of-pipe controls together, rather than imposing added costs on consumers before effectiveness has been established. The noble Lord, Lord Harlech, referenced the need for further understanding and evidence. Having said that, we welcome the APPG’s second report and thank Alberto Costa, the Women’s Institute and the Global Plastics Policy Centre for their work. The report provides a helpful contribution to the evidence and policy debate and reflects the increasing public concern about the presence of microplastics in water, soil, air and the wider environment, which was clearly laid out by the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett. We would like to acknowledge that we recognise the report’s five priority areas: a co-ordinated policy framework; action on major sources; stronger producer responsibility; improved protections for wastewater, sewage sludge and soils; and better monitoring and evidence. Of course, the recommendations cut across different policy areas and departments, so we will ensure that we come together where needed to properly consider them. Engagement with parliamentarians, industry, academia and civil society is invaluable in informing this work, and I very much welcome the continued dialogue on this important issue. None of this, of course, diminishes the urgency of the challenge, as we have heard very clearly this afternoon. The Government are clear-eyed about the growing concern on the issue of microplastics, and we are acting through engagement with stakeholders and supporting research, including on the potential role of technologies such as microfibre filters, as we have discussed today. The noble Baroness, Lady Bennett, also made some important points regarding the education of the public in this matter. Again, we need to have as much information as we can, so we very much welcome a commitment from industry to develop and implement standardised tests to provide unequivocal performance data on washing machine filters. In closing, I once again thank the noble Lord for bringing the Bill forward and for stimulating an important and thoughtful, although short, debate. While I share the ambition that motivates the Bill, for the reasons stated, the Government cannot support it. But I want to assure the noble Lord that government will continue to focus on exploring opportunities to improve our understanding of the sources of microplastics and the risks they pose and ensuring that the most effective interventions are in place to protect human health and the environment. I commend the House for the quality of today’s debate.