Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fly-tipping

Thursday 1 February 2024 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government has provided nearly 1 million to help councils purchase new bins and almost 1.2 million to combat fly-tipping.
  • Councils are being allowed to collect fines and ringfence the money for prosecutions and cleaning up streets.
  • The maximum penalty fine for fly-tipping has been raised from 400 to 1,000.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nicola Richards
Environment
Context

The MP raised concern about the blight of litter and fly-tipping on local communities.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to tackle fly-tipping. I know what a blight litter and fly-tipping can be on local communities, which is why we have provided nearly £1 million to help councils purchase new bins and almost £1.2 million to combat fly-tipping, while a further £1 million will be awarded in the spring. We have more than doubled the maximum fines that councils can issue, with all income from fly-tipping fines to be reinvested in enforcement and cleaning up our streets from April.

Answer from Robbie Moore

I know what a blight litter and fly-tipping can be on local communities, which is why we have provided nearly £1 million to help councils purchase new bins and almost £1.2 million to combat fly-tipping, while a further £1 million will be awarded in the spring. We have more than doubled the maximum fines that councils can issue, with all income from fly-tipping fines to be reinvested in enforcement and cleaning up our streets from April.

Answered
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Q2 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Housing Local Government Environment
Context

The MP cited significant cuts to the council's budget affecting services, particularly impacting children who have to play among rubbish. She proposed a 15-point plan for addressing litter.

Question

My constituents' anger and frustration with litter and fly-tipping has grown as £390 million-worth of Government cuts to Newcastle City Council's budget has impacted on services. Children in particular complain to me about having to play in rubbish. My 15-point plan for rubbish sets out some of the additional powers councils need to address the scourge. Will the Minister meet me to discuss it, and will he back Labour's plan for fixed penalty notices for fly-tippers?

Answer from Robbie Moore

This Government are taking tough action on fly-tipping, which is why we have specifically allowed councils to collect those fines and ringfence them for prosecution and cleaning up the streets. It is important to note that it is Conservative councils that are going above and beyond in dealing with the issue; Labour councils are three times worse than Conservative councils at dealing with fly-tipping crime.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Meeting request and backing of 15-point plan

How: Conservative Vs Labour Performance Comparison

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Q3 Nicola Richards
Local Government Environment
Context

The MP highlighted ongoing fly-tipping issues reported by councillors four months ago that Sandwell Council has failed to address.

Question

Residents living in Cobham Road, Friar Park, in my constituency have recently experienced fly-tipping in the alleyway behind their properties. Despite this being reported by councillors four months ago, Sandwell Council has still not removed that rubbish. Apart from telling my constituents to vote Conservative in May, what further steps can the Minister take to ensure that councils fulfil their duty to remove rubbish quickly? My constituents in West Bromwich East deserve better.

Answer from Robbie Moore

I am disappointed to hear once again about the fly-tipping that my hon. Friend's constituents are experiencing for the first time in Friar Park. We are giving councils extra powers to crack down on fly-tipping, but of course it is up to councils to use the powers we are giving them, and it is important to note that the Labour administration at Sandwell Council is once again the worst performing council in the country, with zero prosecutions for fly-tipping last year. That is despite this Conservative Government raising fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping from £400 to £1,000, and the Government enabling those councils—

Partly answered

Not addressed: Additional steps beyond voting Conservative

How: Conservative Vs Labour Performance Comparison

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Q4 Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth
Environment
Context

The MP mentioned the persistent fly-tipping issue in her borough despite spending significant resources.

Question

Hounslow Borough is plagued by fly-tipping. Despite the council using all the powers it can to address the problem, spending large amounts of money to do so, and having a good rate of recycling, fly-tipping continues. What is the Government's timetable for responding to the Public Accounts Committee report on the Government's programme for waste reforms?

Answer from Robbie Moore

We are giving councils more powers than ever before to deal with fly-tipping. We have raised the minimum penalty fine from £400 to £1,000, and are allowing councils to ringfence that money for prosecutions and cleaning up their streets. It is disappointing to see from the stats that Labour councils are not using the powers we are giving them as much as they should.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Timetable for responding to PAC report

How: Conservative Vs Labour Performance Comparison

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Q5 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Environment
Context

The MP expressed dissatisfaction with the penalties imposed on offenders.

Question

The penalties are insufficient. If offenders were garrotted with their own intestines, there would be fewer of them.

Answer from Robbie Moore

It is important to note that councils can use the power that we are giving them to apply increased penalty fines of £1,000. The Government want those penalties to be used, so that we can drive down fly-tipping in all council areas.

Answered
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