[Margaret Pilkington]

They are allowed to pocket the cost of the bag, but 5 pence is in excess of what the carriers cost the retailer and they will donate the rest to charity...how this will be policed I have no idea, but I think that most retailers will want to trumpet the good causes they support by telling us how much they have given, and to which good causes.
After all it is very good Google Page Ranking.
In Wales they have been charging for Carrier bags for quite a long time......and folk have got used to it....most having their own bags with them. I have even seen a shopper give a used plastic carrier to someone who hadn't one with them.