§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what research his Department has undertaken on the on-the-spot-fines for litter dropping: and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will introduce legislation to allow local authorities to levy on-the-spot fines for litter dropping; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what representations he has received concerning on-the-spot fines for litter dropping; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what powers local authorities have to impose on-the-spot fines for litter dropping; and if he will make a statement;
(5) what is his Department's policy of on-the-spot fines for litter dropping; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Moynihan[holding answer 22 July 1988]: We have received a number of representations over the past 12 months about the desirability of on-the-spot fines, or, more accurately, fixed penalties for litter offences. Under the City of Westminster Act 1988, which came into force in March, the city council has; powers to operate such fixed penalty system. The council has established a monitoring group, on which the Department is represented, to assess the effectiveness of the system, which we regard as a valuable experiment. If successful, we would wish to consider whether the system should be extended more widely.