The Single Use Carrier Bags (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021: business and regulatory impact assessment

Appendix A: Consultation with Businesses Questionnaire

Zero Waste Scotland is supporting the Scottish Government in preparing a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) for the proposal to amend the Single Use Carrier Bags (Scotland) Regulations 2014 that would see the charge for single-use carrier bags increase from 5p to 10p. 

A BRIA is used to analyse the cost and benefits to businesses and the third sector of any proposed legislation or regulation, with the goal of using evidence to identify the proposal that best achieves policy objectives while minimising costs and burdens as much as possible.

The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2019-2020; Protecting Scotland’s Future, reinforces its commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. “For Scotland to become a net zero society, we need to think about how we use and reuse materials and how we handle waste”. 

“We will shortly consult on raising the minimum amount for the single-use carrier bag charge from 5p to 10p with the intention of bringing forward the required legislation in the coming year.”

The public consultation for raising the single-use carrier bag charge from 5p to 10p was conducted in November 2019. The Scottish Firms Impact test will help ensure all potential impacts on Scotland’s business community are considered. 

The Scottish Firms Impact Test is a legal requirement that forms part of the BRIA process. A core group of key stakeholders that will be impacted by the change in legislation must be interviewed face-to-face in order that the views of business can be fed into the development on the proposed amendments. 

The views expressed during this engagement process will be published as part of the BRIA process. However, your personal information will remain confidential; only the name of your organisation will be used. Additional information can be found at: http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/content/data-protection-policy. 

Questions

1. Do you agree with the Scottish Government’s proposal to extend the single-use carrier bag charge from 5p to 10p? Please expand on your answer.

2. What would be the biggest potential impacts (costs or benefits) for your business or the businesses you represent as a result of increasing the charge for single-use carrier bags from 5p to 10p? Please expand as needed.

3. To what extent do you expect the increase of the charge from 5p to 10p to put Scottish businesses at a disadvantage, nationally or internationally? Please provide evidence where possible. 

4. Does your organisation have specific concerns about how the increase in the charge for single-use carrier bags from 5p to 10p might impact either micro retailers (1-9 employees) and/or smaller retailers (10-49 employees). Please expand on your answer.

5. Has your business already chosen to increase the charge ahead of the proposed increase?

6. Does your organisation have specific concerns on how the scheme might impact retailers in more remote areas of Scotland? Please expand on your answer.

7. It is expected that the scheme will result in higher bag re-use levels, lower levels of litter and a decrease in bags ending up in landfill and in Scotland’s waterways. How would these outcomes impact your organisation?

8. What has been the impact of the 5p charge on single-use carrier bags for your business or the businesses you represent? If possible, please supply evidence.

9. Has your business switched from single-use carrier bags to bags for life? 

10. Are you able to provide data on the number of single-use carrier bags currently sold annually in Scotland or by your sector/organisation? Are you able to provide any information/data on how this changed after the introduction of the 5p charge?

11. Is there anything else you wish to add not covered by the above questions?

12. Please indicate here if you would like to discuss any of the questions above further with Zero Waste Scotland. 

a) Yes 

b) No