HL Deb 24 March 1988 vol 495 cc295-6

3.26 p.m.

Lady Saltoun of Abernethy asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the average annual cost of cleaning up litter left in Hyde Park by marchers and demonstrators.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)

My Lords, there is no cost to the Exchequer for clearing up litter after marches and demonstations. Before permission is given to hold such events the organisers must undertake to clear up afterwards. If they fail to do so, the department carries out the work and recovers the costs from the organisers.

Lady Saltoun of Abernethy

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for that reply. Can he say how much it cost to clear up after the NUPE march on Saturday 5th March?

The Earl of Caithness

Yes, my Lords, I can tell the House that the TUC was sent a bill yesterday for £615.54.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, the Minister has been able to give the House the cost to the organisations concerned of the British democratic right of assembly. Will he now tell the House how much it cost to put down litter for his right honourable friend the Prime Minister to pick up yesterday?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the litter that my right honourable friend picked up yesterday had already been put down by members of the public. I am sure that the whole House would condemn that.

Lord Grimond

My Lords, is the Minister saying that the litter which was especially put down for the Prime Minister was in fact put down by the public? It was widely reported that it was carried into the park in a public cart. Can we be given an assurance that it has been taken away?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, it was a day's collection from the park itself.