§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport what efforts are being made by Her Majesty's Government to control the amount of persistent plastics entering the sea from coastal tipping and ships' garbage.
§ Mr. MooreThe United Kingdom has recently ratified annex V of the MARPOL 73/78 convention. This annex contains regulations for the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships. The United Kingdom ratification brings to 44 per cent. the proportion of world tonnage covered by international ratifications. Before international entry into force can take place the tonnage figure must reach at least 50 per cent.
The regulations of the annex contain a total prohibition on the disposal into the sea of all plastics.