AQW 12351/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 22/05/2024
Answered On Date: 31/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether he intends to increase the carrier bag levy from 25 pence.

Answer:

My department introduced new carrier bag levy legislation in April 2022. It increased the carrier bag levy charge from 5 pence to 25 pence and extended the scope to include all new carrier bags with a retail price of five pounds or less. The primary objective remains to protect our environment by influencing customer behaviour to promote a significant reduction in carrier bag usage.

Annual validated statistics are published each August, with complete figures based on the updated regulation available for the 2022/23 reporting year only. More time is needed for comparative figures to be produced, which will help inform decisions around any future changes to the legislation.