MSP gives up the carrier bag tax bill

[Shirley]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6081548.stm

Mr Pringle said the issue was now on supermarkets' agendas
An MSP who drew up proposals to charge a 10p levy on plastic bags has withdrawn his bill from Holyrood.
Mike Pringle MSP said he made the decision because major improvements had already been made as a result of public debate provoked by the bill.

His plans had been rejected by the environment committee last month.

[Stonehead]

Yet another sell-out. Apparently the environmental savings would be negligible compared to the overal volume of waste, 300-700 jobs would be lost in the packaging industry, it would lead to increased waste because of the switch to paper bags, and the supermarkets are voluntarily reducing waste anyway.

Excuse me while I spit!

Anyway, if you want to tell Mike Pringle what you think, his email is Mike.Pringle.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

You may want to remind him that a MORI poll in 2003 found two-thirds of the population supported paying 10 pence for a carrier bag for their shopping.The survey found a levy was supported by people from all political backgrounds, with 73% of Liberal Democrat voters and 63% of Labour and Conservative voters being in favour of the charge. (Pringle is a LibDem.)

I've already emailed him and my own MSP, but I think they ignore me now!!