§ Sir Cranley OnslowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to reduce the phosphate content of domestic detergent products. [13715]
§ Mr. AtkinsThere has been a reduction of the order of 40 per cent. in the use of phosphates in detergents since the early 1990s, due to the presence in the market place of phosphate-free detergents. The imminent inclusion of detergents in the EC ecolabelling scheme will give an incentive to manufacturers to reduce the content of phosphates in detergents still further. There are some unresolved questions about replacement of phosphates in detergents and the Government have no plans to require substitution.