Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The increase in fly-tipping incidents has been raised as a concern.
What steps are being taken to tackle the rising instances of fly-tipping?
Consulting on legislative reforms for waste handlers' regulation and introducing digital waste tracking. These measures aim to ensure offenders face full legal consequences under the Environment Act.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Dealing with fly-tipping in Harrow costs £1.5 million yearly for council tax payers, mostly to clear waste from private land.
In the London Borough of Harrow, dealing with fly-tipping on public highways alone costs council tax payers £1.5 million each year just to clear it up. The worst aspect is fly-tipping on privately owned land. What further measures can be taken to highlight these perpetrators and ensure they face legal consequences?
Fly-tipping incidents increased last year with 1.13 million cases. The Government is taking robust action through recent consultations and a grant scheme for councils to tackle fly-tipping, urging Harrow Council to bring more prosecutions forward as they did not do so last year.
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Assessment & feedback
Urging the council to take action but no specific measures outlined by the Government.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Fly-tipping is turning parts of the country into litter tips, costing local authorities significant sums in cleanup.
Will the Government ensure that the section 33 offence attracts a fixed penalty of at least £2,000, much more than the price of a skip? The fixed penalty for the section 34 offence should also rise to £1,000. What further measures can be taken to deter fly-tipping and illegal waste disposal?
Agrees that fixed penalty notices need to act as deterrents; producing a new guide on robust prosecutions, digital waste tracking will allow householders to track their waste properly and ensure transparency in the industry.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific financial penalties mentioned but acknowledges the issue.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Waste removal licences are easily obtained, leading to undercutting of legitimate businesses by individuals who provide poor waste services.
Since I was elected, constituents have written to me continuously about fly-tipping. One reason is the ease with which people can obtain waste removal licences. Will the Minister explain what the Government plans to do to increase the detail in which these checks are undertaken?
The waste carrier registration scheme needs urgent reform; measures announced will increase competence and background checks needed to operate, making it easier for regulators to take enforcement action against illegal operators.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify details of the reform but acknowledged its necessity.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Illegal fly-tipping has doubled in England between 2012 and 2019, with councils spending almost £13 million yearly cleaning up waste.
Councils are struggling to combat illegal fly-tipping due to cuts to resources available for enforcement. What more can the Government do to ensure that those agencies have the tools and finances they need?
The Environment Agency received additional funding of £60 million in 2019; councils are supported with better processes and guidance to bring criminals to account, ensuring the system is joined up to track waste from source to destination.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify current enforcement agency's tools or finances but mentioned past funding increase.
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Fly-tipping is a blight across the UK, affecting both rural and urban areas.
What recent assessment has the Minister made of the need for fly-tipping to be treated as organised crime so that investigations are properly resourced?
Fly-tipping is similar in seriousness to the narcotics industry; aiming to crack down and ensure illegal operations are hounded out of the waste disposal sector.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a recent assessment but acknowledged similarity to organised crime.
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs cleaned up 306 illegal waste sites in the past two years at a cost of half a million pounds.
May I first thank the Minister for her enthusiasm in the matter? The most recent statistics from back home show that in the past two years the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs cleaned up 306 illegal waste sites, costing half a million pounds or the equivalent of 15 nurses' pay. What discussions has the Minister had with her counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive to discuss how we can combat these issues together and take the pressure off local councils?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. I meet Ministers from the devolved Administrations regularly. I have not had specific conversations on the matter, but I would be happy to because fly-tipping knows no boundaries. We need to sort it out together.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific discussions with Northern Ireland Executive counterpart were not addressed
I Have Not Had Specific Conversations On The Matter
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Wales has seen its household recycling rates increase from just 4.8% in 1999 to more than 65% in 2021.
I would like to begin by acknowledging that today is Holocaust Memorial Day. May we never see such hatred and wickedness again. The Minister will know that many fly-tips consist mainly of household waste. Wales has seen its household recycling rates catapult from just 4.8% in 1999 to more than 65% in 2021. That is the difference a Labour Government makes. Will the Minister join me in acknowledging the success of the Welsh Labour Government and tell the House what lessons she is learning from them?
I associate myself with the hon. Lady's comments about the holocaust. Consistent collections, ensuring we can collect the seven strands of waste, will allow all households in this country to make sure they are recycling. Coupled with the deposit return scheme and other measures in the Environment Act 2021, they will ensure that everybody in England can recycle easily and consistently.
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Assessment & feedback
Acknowledgment of Welsh Labour Government's success was not addressed
I Associate Myself With The Hon. Lady'S Comments About The Holocaust
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Including cartons in the deposit return scheme could be a step to tackle fly-tipping.
I am grateful that my hon. Friend the Minister mentions the deposit return scheme, because including cartons in the scheme is one extra step the Government could take to tackle fly-tipping. Please will she meet Tetra Pak, based in my constituency, to discuss the feasibility of the onward processing of cartons, which I believe would make that inclusion a practical possibility?
As my hon. Friend knows, we will announce more information on the deposit return scheme shortly. I would, of course, be happy to meet his constituent for further discussions. I do not think we should rule anything out, but nor am I making any promises.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to include cartons in the scheme was not addressed
I Do Not Think We Should Rule Anything Out, But Nor Am I Making Any Promises
Response accuracy