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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of charges for plastic carrier bags; and whether she has plans to increase the number of retailers who are required to levy those charges.

The 5p charge on single use carrier bags was brought in for England in October 2015 and so far it has been highly effective at reducing consumption: early data suggests it will lead to six billion fewer plastic bags being issued in the first year of the charge (over seven billion carrier bags were issued by seven main retailers in 2014). The charge in England has also resulted in donations of more than £29 million from retailers towards good causes including charities and community groups.

Any additional change in policy would require an assessment of cost and efficacy implications. The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) Order 2015 requires the Secretary of State to carry out a review of this Order before 5 October 2020.