§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought in each year since 1979 for actions contravening the clean air legislation and regulations concerning smoke controlled areas. [31108]
§ Mr. MacleanIt is not possible from the information held centrally by my Department to identify offences relating to smoke controlled areas from other summary offences under the Clean Air Acts 1956 and 1968.
The table shows the number of prosecutions for air pollution offences under the two Acts from 1979 to 1994 (latest available).
It should be noted that the statistics of court proceedings are based on returns made by the police to the Home Office. Although they include offences where there has been no police involvement, such as prosecutions instigated by Government Departments—in this case local authorities—private organisations and individuals, the reporting of this type of offence is known to be incomplete.
562W
Number of prosecutions for offences under the Clean Air Acts 1956 and 1968, 1979 to 1994 Clean Air Acts 1956 and 1968 England and Wales Offences relating to public health as caused by air pollution 1979 133 1980 131 1981 134 1982 145 1983 132 1984 202 1985 143 1986 127 1987 100 1988 128 1989 146 1990 152 1991 156 1992 108 1993 95 1994 82