Shops fight Bill banning plastic bags

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The Association of Convenience Stores and the British Retail Consortium are petitioning against the London Local Authorities Bill, which would stop shops selling or giving away plastic bags.

The Bill received its second reading in the Commons yesterday and was referred to a committee for further debate. Today is the deadline for petitions against it.

Critics say it could create an army of council bag-ban enforcers.

Merrick Cockell, chairman of London Councils, which proposed the scheme, said: "Some 90 per cent of respondents to our consultation urged us to take action on this issue."

But Jane Milne of the BRC said: "This will do almost nothing for the environment. Carrier bags represent a fraction of one per cent of waste going to landfill."

James Lowman, chief executive of the ACS, said London Councils had "done no analysis of the likely impact on the retail economy".