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| Plastic straws could be banned, suggests Michael Gove | Plastic straws could be banned, suggests Michael Gove |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Environment Secretary Michael Gove has suggested that plastic straws could be banned in Britain. | Environment Secretary Michael Gove has suggested that plastic straws could be banned in Britain. |
| When asked by the Daily Telegraph if he would prohibit plastic straws Mr Gove replied "watch this space". | When asked by the Daily Telegraph if he would prohibit plastic straws Mr Gove replied "watch this space". |
| He added that a balanced approach would be needed but said: "If it is bad, then banning it is a good thing." | He added that a balanced approach would be needed but said: "If it is bad, then banning it is a good thing." |
| The Marine Conservation Society estimates the UK uses 8.5 billion straws every year which are among the top 10 items found in beach clean-ups. | The Marine Conservation Society estimates the UK uses 8.5 billion straws every year which are among the top 10 items found in beach clean-ups. |
| Michael Gove also argued that outlawing plastic straws would be easier post-Brexit. | Michael Gove also argued that outlawing plastic straws would be easier post-Brexit. |
| He said that being in the EU meant there were "some steps we might want to take environmentally that we can't yet." | He said that being in the EU meant there were "some steps we might want to take environmentally that we can't yet." |
| According to the campaign group, Refuse The Straw, plastic straws take over 200 years to break down. | According to the campaign group, Refuse The Straw, plastic straws take over 200 years to break down. |
| In January the Prime Minister Theresa May said she wanted to eliminate all avoidable plastic within 25 years. | In January the Prime Minister Theresa May said she wanted to eliminate all avoidable plastic within 25 years. |
| A number of restaurants including JD Wetherspoon, Wagamama and Pizza Express have announced that plastic straws would be phased out or only made available on request. | A number of restaurants including JD Wetherspoon, Wagamama and Pizza Express have announced that plastic straws would be phased out or only made available on request. |
| The Queen has also sought to reduce plastic straw usage at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. | The Queen has also sought to reduce plastic straw usage at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. |
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| However, a disability group has expressed concerns about the move to ban plastic straws. | However, a disability group has expressed concerns about the move to ban plastic straws. |
| The Scottish campaigning group, One in Five, has said organisations were "racing ahead" to respond to "understandable environmental concerns" without having "fully considered the needs of some disabled people". | The Scottish campaigning group, One in Five, has said organisations were "racing ahead" to respond to "understandable environmental concerns" without having "fully considered the needs of some disabled people". |
| The group argues that paper straws cannot be used for hot drinks and that metal straws could be dangerous for those with Parkinson's. | The group argues that paper straws cannot be used for hot drinks and that metal straws could be dangerous for those with Parkinson's. |
| The recent BBC documentary Blue Planet II, narrated by David Attenborough, highlighted the damage caused by plastic in the sea. | The recent BBC documentary Blue Planet II, narrated by David Attenborough, highlighted the damage caused by plastic in the sea. |
| This included a case of a pilot whale calf which is thought to have died after consuming its mother's milk contaminated with toxic chemicals from plastic. | This included a case of a pilot whale calf which is thought to have died after consuming its mother's milk contaminated with toxic chemicals from plastic. |
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| A government spokesman said: "We are committed through our 25-year environment plan to eliminating avoidable plastic altogether by the end of 2042 so we leave our planet in a better state than we found it." | A government spokesman said: "We are committed through our 25-year environment plan to eliminating avoidable plastic altogether by the end of 2042 so we leave our planet in a better state than we found it." |
| "We are exploring a range of options, and have already introduced a world-leading ban on microbeads, and set out plans to extend the 5p plastic bag charge, improve recycling rates and explore plastic-free aisles in supermarkets." | "We are exploring a range of options, and have already introduced a world-leading ban on microbeads, and set out plans to extend the 5p plastic bag charge, improve recycling rates and explore plastic-free aisles in supermarkets." |