No not a good idea. An excuse to grab cash. I believe that even degraded one still has minute bits of plastic. I assume that is still a problem as it gets into the food chain with presently unknown consequences. If this is a worry why is plastic (particularly bags) not simply banned ? Anyway we still use plastic bin liners and rubbish bags. Yes paper bags are a good idea except they will have lost their excuse to charge for them, and that would never do. 5p of £5,000, it's the principle of control and taxation that is wrong. As for 80% of the money going to charity, I am capable of deciding to give money to charity myself, and choose the charities I wish to give to. Although it is a better idea not to need charities; we have an elected government that should be ensuring all needs/responsibilities are catered for.