§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has produced on changes in the incidence of fly-tipping following the increase in the level of the landfill tax; and if she will make a statement. [812]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Tidy Britain Group (TBG) has carried out three surveys to determine the effect, if any, of the landfill tax on fly-tipping. The TBG's most recent report, "Effects Of The Landfill Tax On Fly-Tipping (April 1997-March 1998)", confirmed that the type of waste most frequently fly-tipped is household waste. However, local authorities have a legal duty to collect household waste and householders are not directly affected by the landfill tax.
The Fly-Tipping Forum, under the chairmanship of the Environment Agency, has commissioned research to assess the problem of fly-tipping on farm land. However, the survey which is an essential part of the project was suspended on the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth epidemic. The Forum will consider in the autumn whether it is then practicable to carry out the survey.
The action being taken by the Government on fly-tipping, and other forms of unlawful waste disposal, was set out most recently in the Government's response to the 193W Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's Report on the Environment Agency (Cm 4832—paragraphs 55–60).