Diolch, Llywydd. I move the motion. 

Today's debate on the supplementary legislative consent motion to the UK Environment Bill is brought without notice, and I thank Members for their time today. Members will recall the legislative consent motion on the UK Environment Bill passed on 28 September. My intention today is not to reopen debate on the provisions extending to Wales, but to notify Members of an amendment to the Bill that I believe improves our ability to tackle commonly littered single-use items.

On 20 October, I was made aware of a further Government amendment to clause 56 and Schedule 9—charges to single-use plastics. The amendment will provide the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with powers to charge for single-use items beyond the scope of plastics to any materials. I've requested, and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has agreed, to introduce an amendment within the current legislative process to clause 56 and Schedule 9. The extension of this power to Welsh Ministers will ensure we have the same powers as the Secretary of State to make regulations about charges for all single-use items regardless of their material. These regulations will be subject to the affirmative procedure within the Senedd for the first occasion when the charge is introduced for a new product, and subject to the negative procedure thereafter.

Reducing use and availability of unnecessary single-use items and the negative impacts they have on our environment is a top priority for the Welsh Government. As litter and waste do not recognise borders between countries, counties and continents, I believe it is important that we all have the right tools to incentivise a shift away from single-use items towards more reusable and sustainable alternatives. Indeed, this is why we have committed in 'Beyond Recycling', our circular economy strategy, to phase out unnecessary single-use items in Wales for this very purpose.

The Welsh Government has always supported broader powers, and, as noted in our response to the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee in May 2020, consideration would have to have been given to amending the UK Environment Bill if the opportunity had not arisen. A broader charging power provides a strong disincentive to producing single-use products, and I recommend acceptance to Members of the Senedd. Diolch.