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The RPCs opinion covers the Post Implementation Review on the measure of the Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) Order 2015 (the original Order) which introduced a mandatory charge of five pence for each such bag sold by retailers with 250 employees or more.

Overall, the PIR provides good evidence and analysis to support retaining the legislation in some form. However, the PIR does not address adequately that the order as has been subsequently amended, such as including smaller retailers and increasing the charge to 10 pence per bag. The PIR does not directly address the case for these changes; indeed, there is very little evidence presented relating to the original exclusion of small and micro retailers. Therefore the RPCs opinion is that the PIR does not provide proportionate evidence and analysis to support its recommendation of retaining the original order. Given the fact that the measure has been superseded by the amended measure the RPC considers it appropriate to publish their opinion for transparency purposes. The Department will need to produce a further PIR on the new, amending legislation, due by October 2026, to provide such evidence and analysis.