Gordon Brown says the country's aim must be to "eliminate the single-use plastic bag altogether".

Kentonline asked 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister's view on plastic bags after pupils from a Deal primary school requested he stopped using them as part of a Ban the Bag campaign.

His office responded promptly with the following statement from the PM.

Mr Brown stressed as a nation we could cut the 13 billion plastic bags that are used and wasted each year, which equates to ten bags a week per household.

He said: "Plastic bags are one of the most visible and most easily reducible forms of waste, and cutting them out of our lives is one of the most straightforward ways we can all do something directly to improve our environment and reduce pollution."

He believes retailers should also build on their target to reduce the environmental impact of their bags by 25 per cent - however, arguing that there is still a need to move 'faster and further'.

“If we want others to change, we must make it easier for people to make the right choices.That applies to individual things each of us do, and also what our firms and shops do.

"So the Government is ready to do what it can to encourage a change in the way we use these bags.

"I am personally reminded every week of the scale of the problem we face. Like many working families with children, Sarah and I often use supermarket deliveries for the weekly shopping.

"And as millions of others in Britain who do likewise will understand, we are left with a bin full of plastic bags at the end of it, with each bag sometimes containing just a handful of items. This cannot be right.

“I am convinced we need to act - and the time to act is now. I have already made clear that over time, we should aim to eliminate the single-use plastic bag altogether.

“We do not take such steps lightly - but the damage that single-use plastic bags inflict on the environment is such that strong action must be taken."

How eco-friendly is Gordon and his wife Sarah?

They have had solar panels fitted on their own home in Scotland to heat water. They do all the recycling they can, and compost in the garden too. He is also trying to take the train more, and makes sure their electrical appliances are low-energy, and don’t get left on standby.