HC Deb 01 March 2002 vol 380 cc1594-5W
Angela Watkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were convicted of fly tipping in 2001; and what sentences were imposed. [37722]

Mr. Meacher

Both local authorities and the Environment Agency may prosecute for fly tipping offences. The Environment Agency keeps records of breaches to section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Until December 2001, this did not single out fly tipping offences from other instances of illegally depositing controlled waste on land. This situation changed, in December 2001 and records now show whether an incident involves fly tipping. Between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2001 the total number of Environment Agency prosecutions under section 33 of the 1990 Act were 234. Further information is as follows:

  • Individuals prosecuted: 196
  • Organisations prosecuted: 38
  • Range of Fines: £30—£8,000

Custodial Terms: four, ranging from one to six months

Conditional Discharges: 25, ranging from one to two years

Community Service: six, ranging from 80 to 220 hours

Requirement to pay compensation: four instances, with amounts ranging from £237 to £750

No central register is kept of local authorities' prosecutions.

Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what costs were incurred in setting up the Department's CHP Club; and what its operational costs were in the financial year 2000–01. [37709]

Mr. Meacher

The CHP Club provides a one-stop shop for independent information and guidance for potential and new users on the design, implementation, and operation of CHP schemes. Responsibility for the management of the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice programme including the CHP Club will soon be passed to The Carbon Trust. The total cost of setting up and operating the CHP Club in 2000–02 was around £200,000.