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

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have recently reviewed their policy in relation to minimising further the use of plastic bags within retailing; and if not, whether they intend to review that policy in the next six months.

There has been no formal review of the policy, but since the introduction of the Single Use Carrier Bags charges (England) Order 2015, 9 billion fewer single use carrier bags have been used and £95 million raised for good causes by retailers. This Order is due for review by October 2020.

Any decision to review the wider policy ahead of that date would be done within the context of the Government’s forthcoming Waste and Resources Strategy.