13. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the practice of retailers giving away single use carrier bags free of charge. (171742)

The Government pledged in the Waste Strategy for England 2007 to phase out single use carrier bags issued free at point of sale.

The Prime Minister signalled his commitment to this goal in his speech to the Foreign Press Association on the 19 November. We are actively working on the best means by which we can achieve this objective.