Taxation: Plastic Bags Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Taxation: Plastic Bags

Lord Dubs Excerpts
Monday 28th May 2012

(12 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Sassoon Portrait Lord Sassoon
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My Lords, I am sure that the authorities of the House have listened carefully to that bit of advice.

Lord Dubs Portrait Lord Dubs
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Is the Minister aware that he must be the first Treasury Minister in history who seems not to want the money when there is pressure for a tax? The fact is that the voluntary scheme is useful, but does he not agree that taxation could significantly reduce the number of plastic bags in use, thereby saving the environment and perhaps giving the Treasury some more money?

Lord Sassoon Portrait Lord Sassoon
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My Lords, this is also a Government who take the burdens on business through red tape extremely seriously. We have to balance the various factors at play here.