Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to encourage newsagents to (a) stop using and (b) explore alternatives to plastic bags.

Recognising the success of the 5p charge in reducing the use of plastic bags, we have consulted on proposals to extend the single use carrier bag charge to all retailers, including newsagents, and to increase the minimum charge to 10p. We aim to publish both the summary of responses and the Government position very soon.