HL Deb 29 June 1959 vol 217 cc324-5
LORD BIRDWOOD

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are in a position to state the number of fines imposed under the Litter Act, 1958, since the passing of the Act.]

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, the number of fines imposed under the Litter Act, 1958, from the Act coming into operation in August of that year until the end of March, 1959, was 574.

LORD BIRDWOOD

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord for that information. I should like to ask this as a supplementary: whether the Government are satisfied that they are achieving the desired results from the Act?

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, I think it would be idle to pretend that so far as this litter question is concerned we have not got a long way to go; but there certainly are indications that, because of the Act, and because of the propaganda which is being carried on, the public are becoming aware of the nuisance created by litter; and my right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government, who is personally particularly interested in this subject, has no reason to feel very disappointed about the reaction so far.

LORD STONHAM

Can the noble Lord say whether any prosecutions are likely to arise from the condition around the Victoria Statue in front of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour?

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, I do not think that that is the sort of thing I am in a position to state.

LORD SILKIN

Is the noble Lord aware that the number of disused bus tickets outside the Ministry of Housing and Local Government has very much decreased since the passing of the Litter Act?

LORD CHESHAM

I have no doubt that that is one factor which has increased the optimism of my right honourable friend.

LORD CHORLEY

My Lords, would the noble Lord see that propaganda is carried out before the August Bank Holiday week-end in order to bring the provisions of this Act to the notice of people at a particularly bad time? I would suggest that the British Broadcasting Corporation might be asked to co-operate.

LORD CHESHAM

Yes, my Lords, I am glad to be able to say that the August Bank Holiday week-end is being run, so to speak, as an anti-litter week-end.