This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24088523
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Plastic bag charge to be introduced in England | Plastic bag charge to be introduced in England |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 5p charge for plastic bags in England is to be introduced by the government in a bid to discourage their use. | A 5p charge for plastic bags in England is to be introduced by the government in a bid to discourage their use. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is to unveil the plans at the Liberal Democrat party conference this weekend. | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is to unveil the plans at the Liberal Democrat party conference this weekend. |
| Ministers are said to be concerned at the environmental impact of the bags, particularly on waterborne animals. | Ministers are said to be concerned at the environmental impact of the bags, particularly on waterborne animals. |
| The charge, which will only apply to supermarkets and larger stores, will begin after the 2015 election, with the proceeds going to charities. | The charge, which will only apply to supermarkets and larger stores, will begin after the 2015 election, with the proceeds going to charities. |
| A similar charge applying to the single-use carrier bags made from both plastic and paper is already in effect in Wales and Northern Ireland. Retailers in Scotland will start charging for bags in October 2014. | A similar charge applying to the single-use carrier bags made from both plastic and paper is already in effect in Wales and Northern Ireland. Retailers in Scotland will start charging for bags in October 2014. |
| According to Liberal Democrat sources, the charge in Wales, which began in 2011, has seen the use of plastic bags drop by roughly 75%. | According to Liberal Democrat sources, the charge in Wales, which began in 2011, has seen the use of plastic bags drop by roughly 75%. |
| A senior aide to Mr Clegg said the deputy prime minister had to "push hard across government" to ensure the levy was introduced. | A senior aide to Mr Clegg said the deputy prime minister had to "push hard across government" to ensure the levy was introduced. |
| BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said ministers acknowledged that shoppers may be unhappy about the prospect of the charge in what are "tough times" but the coalition believed it needed to tackle their use. | BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said ministers acknowledged that shoppers may be unhappy about the prospect of the charge in what are "tough times" but the coalition believed it needed to tackle their use. |
| A number of supermarkets already encourage customers to limit their use of carrier bags by giving them loyalty points for providing their own. Others, such as Marks & Spencer, have introduced a charge. | |
| Charities involved in clearing up the environmental damage caused by plastic bags will benefit from money raised by the new charge. | |
| Groups such as the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Keep Britain Tidy, the Marine Conservation Society and Surfers Against Sewage have long called for a charge. They said plastic bags littered England's streets and countryside. | |
| The bags, they say, have proved harmful to wildlife which become entangled in them or think they are food. |