§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to deal with the problem of litter in public places; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyWe are determined to tackle vigorously the problems caused by litter and litterers. I am today, together with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and for Wales, publishing details of our proposals for legislation designed to improve the appearance and standards of cleanliness of public places in England and Wales, and to enable and encourage local authorities, other landowners and individual citizens to take more effective action against litter and those who drop it.
Our proposals include:
An increase in the maximum fine for littering under the 1983 Litter Act from £400 to £1,000;A power for local authorities to introduce a fixed penalty scheme for littering;A duty on local authorities to keep clean all land in their beneficial occupancy or control, open to the air and to which the public have access (the duty to include both litter and dog faeces);A similar duty on certain landowners with statutory functions;A power for local authorities to extend by designation order a similar duty on owners of certain defined categories of land in other ownership (such as car parks, shopping precincts and forecourts of commercial premises);Rationalising street cleaning responsibilities by making non-metropolitan district councils wholly responsible for cleaning of all roads (except motorways);348WA statutory code of practice to which all those under the duty would be required to have regard, specifying standards of cleanliness and advising on the best means of achieving them;A system of enforcement whereby (a) an aggrieved citizen will be able to apply for a court order directing a local authority, or any other landowner under the duty to keep clean, to discharge the duty; (b) the local authority has the power to issue a "litter abatement notice" requiring any other landowner under the duty to discharge that duty; and (c) the local authority has default powers to carry out cleaning work itself, and recover costs;The extension of section I of the Litter Act to all areas covered by the duty to keep clean, and the widening of its scope.I am arranging for copies of the consultation document to be placed in the Library of the House. Copies are also being sent to interested parties inviting comments by 22 September. Subject to responses to the consultation, the Government intend to introduce the necessary legislation at the earliest opportunity.