evidence: This statistical report is updated annually and the published statistics relate to the carrier bag levy that commenced on 8 April 2013. The figures relate to the number of bags dispensed by retailers in Northern Ireland between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017 as notified to the Department by 30 June 2017. It is available from the DAERA website. [...] - The number of carrier bags dispensed in 2016/17 is markedly lower than the baseline figure prior to the introduction of the levy, which, for 2012 was estimated at 300 million bags. Year four of the 5p levy saw a reduction in bag numbers of 67% compared to the 2012 baseline. [...] - This is the fourth year of the carrier bag levy in Northern Ireland. These are the final official statistics for 2016/17. The Department intends to publish 2017/18 figures in August 2018. Reports from previous years can be accessed from the DAERA website.