Plastic bag use has plummeted in England since the introduction of a 5p charge last year, under the previous coalition government.

Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron:

“We always said the test of this policy would be by the amount of bags that are cut from public consumption and the funds raised for charities – on both of these tests this policy has passed.

“I want to pay tribute to Kate Parminter who thought tirelessly for this policy and today’s figures are a testament to her. It was down to the Liberal Democrats in Government that this policy happened – we announced it at our 2013 conference and we are now seeing what a huge impact that it has had.

“The facts are simple; single use bags blight our towns and countryside, they trap and suffocate wildlife, and plastic bags take hundreds of years to degrade. These figures show that this policy is starting to do that.”