Climate change secretary hails plastic bag charge

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey has welcomed the move to introduce a charge for plastic bags at supermarkets in England – and denied that it was a revenue-generating scheme.

He told BBC Breakfast: "It is a huge environmental step forward. We want you to not pay this charge by reusing and not using plastic bags.

“The success of this charge will be that it doesn't raise any money. We are very clear that none of this money will come to government, we are not trying to tax people, we are trying to change people's behaviour.”