§ 3.32 p.m.
§ Mr. Rupert Speir (Hexham)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for the abatement of litter.The Bill which I seek to introduce is as simple as that. Parliament has recently passed into law an Act providing for clean air, and the opinion of many local authorities and other bodies is that the time has come for Parliament to pass an Act designed to provide for a clean-up of our towns and countryside. That is the sole aim of the Bill.Litter has now become a serious menace to both life and limb. The number of accidents caused to humans and to animals by broken bottles and rusty tins is immense—particularly is this so on our beaches and seashores. Moreover, as we all know, litter is disfiguring all our highways and byways and, in fact, almost every nook and cranny of our country. It causes, too, very great expense. Local authorities are having to spend millions of pounds of public money to provide for its collection and disposal.
Britain, almost alone among the countries of the world, does not condemn litter by Statute. It is true that we have some byelaws dealing with this menace, but those byelaws apply only in certain areas, and experience has shown, I think, that they are vague and uncertain in their effect and are too often disregarded.
I can well understand that there may be some people who will suggest that a Bill of this kind must inevitably be vexatious, lead to unnecessary officiousness, and to a certain extent destroy liberty and freedom. I would answer that it is the "litter bug" himself who is destroying freedom because, by his selfishness, he is ensuring that privileges are taken away and that many beauty spots are closed to the public.
That is why the Bill I seek to introduce is supported by societies such as the Rights of Way Society, the Ramblers' Association, the Youth Hostels Association, and by nearly every one of the many public bodies which are interested in protecting the amenities of the country. They are all pressing for legislation on the lines of the proposed Bill. If hon. Members have the opportunity to see it, they will 1054 not only find that the Bill is short and simple, but they will see that care has been taken in framing it in order to prevent its being unnecessarily vexatious.
The Bill will, I believe, safeguard from prosecution, or even persecution, anyone who accidentally drops, for instance, a handkerchief. A fairly wilful and deliberate act will be required before an offence is committed. Perhaps I may say that I myself have taken a particular interest in this aspect of the matter, because I do not want to increase the number of unnecessary laws.
I have in mind a personal experience in this connection. I remember that, one wintry morning. I was passing the walls of Buckingham Palace and, unfortunately, a gust of wind removed a brand new hat from my head, whisking it over the wall into the Palace gardens—never to be seen again. I should have been highly indignant if, in addition to losing my new hat, I had been prosecuted for spreading litter.
The Bill as drafted will not. I believe, lead to unnecessary prosecutions. There is, however, I must admit, one aspect of the problem which still causes me some concern—whether confetti throwing will remain legal or not. If anyone wishes to continue to indulge in this practice after the passing of the Bill, he should either use edible confetti, which will, I hope, be consumed by the birds, or he should use soluble confetti, which will disappear, and then the evidence will likewise disappear.
The Bill I seek to introduce contains no magic. It certainly will not solve this very grave problem. Parliament can help, by tackling the matter, however, by dealing with it as other nations have done—on a universal basis—by making the spreading of litter an offence throughout the length and breadth of Britain.
§ 3.39 p.m.
§ Mr. Victor Collins (Shoreditch and Finsbury)I should not like the Motion to be passed without a word being said from this side of the House in support of the proposed Measure.
§ Mr. SpeakerI appreciate the hon. Gentleman's intentions, but the Standing Order allows only another speech against the Bill.
§ Question put and agreed to
1055§ Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Speir, Mr. Collins, Mr. John Hill, Lieutenant-Commander Maydon, Mr. Nabarro, Mr. Russell, Mr. Michael Stewart, Mr. John Taylor, Dame Irene Ward, Mrs. Eirene White, and Mr. Whitelaw.