AN MSP who wants to bring in a 10p tax on plastic shopping bags has been told to go away and think again, writes Steve Bargeton, political editor.

Liberal Democrat backbencher Mike Pringle is trying introduce a Plastic Bags (Scotland) Bill for environmental reasons.

But MSPs on Holyrood’s environment and rural development committee are not convinced and yesterday asked Mr Pringle to come back with more evidence.

Mr Pringle says the levy would encourage greater bag re-use, minimising the amount going to landfill and reducing litter and the harm caused to the environment and animals.

However, the Scottish Retail Consortium and the Carrier Bag Consortium have claimed the scheme could actually increase waste and would be difficult to administer.

An independent report commissioned by the Scottish Executive said a plastic bag tax could lead to a rise in the use of paper bags, which would give off greenhouse gases while decomposing if sent to landfill.

The Executive also warned last month that the level of the charge might go up to 12p because of VAT.

Committee convener Sarah Boyack said the issue was a complex one and asked for more clarification from the Executive on the issue of VAT and the disposal of plastic bags.

“We found that the possible impacts of the levy are complex on a whole range of issues,” she said.

“Whether the Bill would result in a positive net environmental impact is hotly-disputed.

“The way the levy is to be administered also raises concerns about the costs.

“These issues make it difficult to judge whether this proposed scheme will be able to achieve its aims.

“We agreed unanimously that we don’t think that the Parliament can decide whether this Bill should proceed until some of these issues are resolved.”

Committee members are divided on the need for the measure.

Mid Scotland and Fife Tory Ted Brocklebank said, “There were concerns over potential littering and unnecessary interference in the marketplace.

“Caring for the environment is important and, whilst we are in favour of measures that encourage individuals to do so, we believe that this Bill would have created a number of problems whilst having a minimum effect on plastics waste.

“Whether or not to charge should be a matter for individual businesses to decide, not for government to dictate.”

But fellow Mid Scotland and Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell, the deputy convener of the committee, said, “While the basic idea of introducing a compulsory charge onto poly bags is sound, there are real complexities with the Bill which need to be ironed out.

“If they can resolve the outstanding issues then the Bill should pass next year.”

Despite the setback, Mr Pringle declared that his plastic bag levy was “still alive and well.”

“I want to see detailed independent research carried out,” he said.

“The plastics industry has held too much sway up to now. They have been scaremongering the whole way through this process.

“Evidence from Ireland has shown that this is a powerful tool for changing consumers’ behaviour and the committee has accepted this.

“I will be working hard over the next six months so that my Bill can become law as soon as possible.”