Ulster Unionist Environment spokesperson, Tom Elliott, has welcomed the news that the carrier bag levy will not increase from five pence to ten pence next year, describing it as a ‘relief for consumers and businesses.’ 

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said; 

“The news that the levy will not be increasing from five pence to ten is something that will certainly be welcomed across the board. Consumers in Northern Ireland must be credited for adapting to the existing levy with relative ease, and whilst there are always teething problems to overcome in any new initiative, I believe businesses have responded admirably to what was an extra administrative pressure.  

My Party had concerns about this levy ever since it was announced. Whilst there was an obvious need to reduce the exorbitant number of single use carrier bags bags issued here every year, we always believed that any levy should have been for environmental rather than revenue raising reasons. Unfortunately this was not the case as before the levy had even been finalised the Finance Minister had cut the Department of Environment’s annual budget by £4million citing that the levy would make up the shortfall. 

Thankfully the levy, whilst bridging a reckless hole in the budget, has also had a very significant impact on reducing the number of bags being issued with some of the major supermarkets indicating a reduction in excess of 80%. 

It is only right for the Department to have realised that consumers deserve recognition for drastically reducing the number of plastic bags being issued. It was clear that there was no case for doubling this levy.”