Thank you for contacting me about chemical pollution in our waters.

I believe that given the central importance of our oceans in combating the climate crisis, it is critical that UK waters and the species that live there are properly protected.

I know that polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used for a wide variety of purposes, and that the scourge of plastic waste can end up polluting our oceans.

As you know, the Government pledged in 2018 to publish a Chemicals Strategy as part of its 25-Year Environment Plan. It has recently said that it has no publication date for the Strategy. I am very concerned about the delay to this Strategy and will follow developments on it closely.

The Government has said it is working to improve its understanding of the emissions and risks of PFAS in the UK and how best to manage any such identified risks. It has said it will consider how these chemicals are managed in this Chemicals Strategy.

It added that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) also regularly reviews new PFAS and previously said it would consider work by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) of the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) latest scientific opinion on PFAS in food. The COT has recently published initial papers on a further review of PFAS.

More widely, I am concerned the Government has not indicated an intention to seek close cooperation with the European Chemicals Agency, and that regulatory divergence could have a severe impact on the quality and strength of public health and environmental protections. We should be levelling up, not cutting ties.

Likewise I believe the plastic industry has become unsustainable. In 1950, we produced 1.7 million tonnes of plastic a year. Today, we produce a staggering 350 million tonnes. Recent research found at least 14 million tonnes of plastic pieces less than 5mm wide are likely to be sitting at the bottom of the world’s oceans. Unless we move rapidly to a more circular economy this will have devastating effects on future generations.

I fully support an all-in deposit return scheme for drinks containers of all sizes and materials. They achieve the best recycling return and are the clearest system for members of the public to use. I believe we are unlikely to achieve the sort of change and progress that our planet desperately needs without buy-in from the public. I further believe an all-in scheme is the most likely to offer opportunities for scaling up to a future refill system.

I am very worried about the future of our environment under any version of a Tory Government, who have proven over the past 12 years they care little for dealing with the realities of climate change.

It is really troubling that the UK continues to be among the most nature-depleted countries in the world. More than ever I believe we need urgent policy that will deliver for both the planet’s wildlife and its people.

Britain urgently needs to tackle the causes of climate change, invest in real renewable solutions to our energy supply, and protect nature across the country.

Therefore, I am really proud of Labour’s bold new policy announcements from our recent Party Conference. We have committed to achieving 100% clean power by 2030, establishing a publicly owned British Energy Company, ending 90% of sewage discharges by 2030 and quadrupling our offshore wind capacity by 2030 to name a few.

These policies are part of Labour’s vision for a UK that is focused on protecting our environment for future generations, not destroying our woodlands and nature for a quick profit.

I can assure you that I will hold the Government accountable for this policy’s negative potential impacts and will work with my colleagues to urge them to reverse this decision.