§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the available statistics for each of the last five years on the number of breaches of tree preservation orders.
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§ Mr. Moynihan[holding answer 7 July 1988]: The latest available information on the number of prosecutions in England and Wales is as follow:
Number 1982 42 1983 54 1984 71 1985 50 1986 59
§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to take any action to secure stricter compliance with tree preservation orders.
§ Mr. Moynihan[holding answer 7 July 1988]: I announced on 22 March a wide-ranging review of tree preservation policy and legislation. Pending the outcome of that review, I consider the penalties for contravening orders are sufficient to ensure general compliance. On summary conviction an offender may be fined up to £2,000, or twice the sum which appears to the court to be the value of the tree, whichever is the greater. On conviction on indictment, the fine is unlimited and, in determining the amount, the court is required to have regard to any financial benefit which has accrued, or appears likely to accrue, in consequence of the offence.