HC Deb 24 April 1978 vol 948 cc481-2W
Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the working of the current anti-litter legislation; and if he will publish details of the number of prosecutions and convictions under the present law for the years 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

Mr. Marks

It is doubtful to what extent more rigorous enforcement of the anti-litter legislation could help us to keep down litter although there may well be scope for making more use of it to deal with special problems.

Prosecutions and convictions under the Acts from 1973 onwards are as follows:

Persons prosecuted Persons convicted
1973 2,672 2,531
1974 2,279 2,157
1975 1,999 1,909
1976 2,170 2,065

Figures for 1977 are not yet available.