§ Lord Moranasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the increasing littering of the countryside with used plastic bags, they can do anything to promote the use by the animal feed and agro-chemical industries of biodegradable bags.
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Elton)Where it is considered appropriate the Government encourage industry and others to develop biodegradable products. The properties of biodegradable bags currently commercially available are such that they have not been demonstrated to be suitable for certain types of chemicals, or products such as fertilisers which may need storing for extended periods of time. Animal foods are already generally supplied in multi-ply paper sacks which are biodegradable. The prevention of litter is, however, a matter of good waste management practice by users of the bags whether biodegradable or not. The Government encourage this through their support of the Keep Britain Tidy Group, which provides through its Community Environment Programme a comprehensive litter abatement programme for introduction by local authorities.