Written question asked by Barry Sheerman (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 January 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 January 2022. It was answered by Jo Churchill (Conservative) on Tuesday, 25 January 2022 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Plastic Bags: Fees and Charges

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that retailers direct all revenues raised through the plastic bag levy to charitable causes.

Answer: The carrier bag charge has been very successful in reducing the number of single-use carrier bags used - which have fallen by 95% for major retailers. Retailers with over 250 staff must keep three years of records, including how many single-use bags have been sold, and how the proceeds have been used. Whilst there is no legal obligation on retailers to donate the charge, Defra encourages doing so and publishes a summary including the amounts of money given to good causes: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/carrier-bag-charge-summary-of-data-in-england Retailers have donated nearly Â£190 million to good causes from the charge since its introduction.

Secondary information