§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what efforts are being made by his Department to encourage the development and use of degradable plastics by industry.
§ Mrs. RumboldIt is not the function of my Department to encourage the development of degradable plastics by industry. Rather it is for industry itself to seek out avenues of research and development. Such projects could be eligible for grant under the support for innovation scheme operated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
We would encourage the use of products which have environmental advantages provided they represented an economic and practical alternative to products already in use.