This week Parliament is focussing on the Budget, which the
Chancellor will be giving today.
I spent the run up both in Mid-Cornwall and in Parliament,
including a busy constituency advice surgery in Newquay and the Anti-Social
Behaviour summit in St Austell
I had a packed time in Parliament, speaking in a number of
debates, including one on Fatherhood and the importance of the role of fathers
in today’s society, and on the role of the UK in combatting marine pollution.
Along with this second debate, I was also pleased, in my
capacity as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Protecting Our
Waves, to host the Plastic-free Coastlines Reception in Westminster. Those who
have followed my work will know this is an issue I have been campaigning on
since I was first elected.
Along with Surfers Against Sewage, the reception took place
to highlight the issue of marine plastic pollution and promote innovative
government, business and community based solutions to protect our oceans and
beaches from the rising tide of plastic.
In 1950, the world’s population of 2.5 billion produced 1.5
million tons of plastic; in 2016, a global population of more than 7 billion
people produced over 320 million tons of plastic. This is set to double by
2034. Every day approximately 8 million pieces of plastic pollution find their
way into our oceans and there may now be around 5.25 trillion macro and
microplastic pieces floating in the open ocean, altogether weighing up to
269,000 tonnes.
UK-wise, approximately 5000 items of marine plastic
pollution have been found per mile of beach and on average over 150 plastic
bottles litter each mile of UK beaches.
On top of this, recent studies have revealed marine plastic
pollution in 100% of marine turtles, 59% of whales, 36% of seals and 40% of
seabird species examined. 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea
birds are killed by marine plastic pollution annually.
These are all shocking statistics and clearly something
needs to be done. With this in mind, it was great to get so many inspirational
charities, businesses and government agencies together in Parliament to see
just how far we have come in our fight against plastic pollution of our seas.
The Government is listening to the hundreds of thousands of
people who have got involved and is taking forward ideas including the
consultation on the deposit return scheme for single use plastic bottles and we
are very much hoping for more news on this issue in the budget. There is still
much more to do, both in terms of raising awareness of this issue and the
serious nature of the problem, and in providing solutions to the tide of plastic
that is blighting our seas.
My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and
work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone needing support.
The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm (no
appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my assistance on
then please, either visit the office or contact me on either 01726 829379 or
office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular, appointment only,
advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can be found at:
www.stevedouble.org.uk/events
