§ Sir Peter Millsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the number of cases where property developers ignore tree preservation orders, he will take steps to prescribe higher maximum and minimum penalties at a level which no longer makes it economic for developers to pay fines as part of the costs of development.
§ Mr. WaldegraveUnder the law as it stands there is no maximum limit on the fines which may be imposed following conviction on indictment for an offence of this nature. The current limit in the case of summary conviction is £1,000 or twice the value of the tree, whichever is the greater. I agree that we should look again at the adequacy of this provision, but I do not think it would be appropriate to consider minimum penalties for such offences.