Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Official Report 863KB pdf

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Subordinate Legislation

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Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (SSI 2018/162)

The fourth agenda item is a negative instrument. Do members have any comments on the regulations?

I welcome the action that is being taken UK-wide to tackle perhaps one of the easiest forms of microplastic to remove from the production cycle, preventing it from getting into the oceans. Microplastics are a major problem physically because they pass through the food chain, but they also carry chemicals into the food chain, which may affect human health as well as the health of the environment.

It would be useful to get clarity from the Scottish Government about its approach to other forms of microplastic, such as microfibres from clothing, which are perhaps much harder to remove from the oceans, and to hear the Government’s views on how it is addressing the wider issue of the action that is needed to deal with microplastics internationally, in the UK and in Scotland.

I was going to make that point, too, and I support Mark Ruskell’s comments. We have taken action on cotton buds, plastic straws and now microbeads and plastic waste. It would be interesting to know whether any Government department is looking at the effect of any other consumer goods or components in goods that may affect the environment. We should write to the cabinet secretary to ask that question.

I have just a tiny observation. I have three products for exfoliation and I found as a result of reading the regulations that one of them has microbeads in it. I dumped it in the bin this morning, which is real action in the Stevenson household. I strongly support the regulations.

I hope that the container was not recyclable, Mr Stevenson.

I am pleased that the regulations have been laid, especially when we consider that up to 51 trillion microplastic particles that can be highly damaging when eaten or inhaled by marine life have accumulated in our oceans. The regulations, which will come into force imminently, are welcome. I hope that similar action will be taken to tackle nurdles, which are also an issue, particularly around the Forth estuary.

I will not reiterate the comments that have been made by other members, which I support, and I support the regulations. If we agree to Richard Lyle’s request that we write to the Scottish Government about the wider issues, glitter is one such issue that has been drawn to my attention by the brownies in the Borders. It is another aspect that had not come to my mind until the brownies wrote to me.

I am delighted to associate myself with the regulations, which are very welcome. I identify myself with the positive remarks that have been made by other members.

Can I take it as read that we do not wish to make any recommendations with regard to the instrument, but that we will write to the Government along the lines that members have raised?

Members indicated agreement.

At the committee’s next meeting on 26 June, it will hear oral evidence from Scottish Government officials on the register of controlling interests in land. The committee will also consider its work programme and its approach to work on the marine environment, financial scrutiny and the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. The committee will hold a second meeting next week, when it will hear from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove MP, by videolink.

As agreed earlier, the committee will now move into private session.

12:39 Meeting continued in private until 12:52.