§ 13. Sir Fergus MontgomeryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the regulations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 relating to litter came into force.
§ The Minister for the Environment and Countryside (Mr. David Trippier)The provisions about the fixed penalty scheme and the increase in the maximum fine for littering from £400 to £1,000 came into force on 13 February. The new duty to ensure that land is kept clear of litter and refuse will come into effect on 1 April 1991. I will be placing a full detailed timetable in the Library.
§ Sir Fergus MontgomeryI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Should not the Government set a good example? Will he consider removing Crown immunity?
§ Mr. TrippierI am happy to tell my hon. Friend that we have decided to remove Crown immunity, which means that every Government Department will have to comply 974 with the litter provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. I trust that all Departments will therefore set an excellent example to the rest of the nation.
§ Mr. EasthamIt is about time that we gave the confectionery industry some guidelines about packaging. Often sweets are covered by two or three pieces of paper which increases unnecessarily the amount of litter that has to be collected. The problem could be greatly reduced.
§ Mr. TrippierI am very interested in what the hon. Gentleman says. Within the Department we have already set up a working party to deal with waste minimisation, which is precisely the point to which the hon. Gentleman has drawn the attention of the House. Last week I had an opportunity to visit Germany and was very interested in the waste minimisation proposals that are being introduced by the federal Government there. Those proposals will cover the packaging problem. It will be interesting to see how the Germans implement their legislation and I shall be fascinated to see whether it can be replicated here.