Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, commenting on today’s statement by the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee on the Government’s plastic bag charge scheme, said;

“For months the Tories’ Environment Secretary Owen Paterson delayed the introduction of a plastic bag levy because he wanted an exemption for biodegradable bags, even though scientists said this was a flawed policy that would damage the environment and the recycling industry.

“He was forced into an embarrassing U-turn on his fantasy biodegradable bags and now he has undermined the scheme by exempting some retailers. This is an unscientific mess from a Government that is allergic to science.”