§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will restrict the maximum fee which a local authority can charge persons who make a complaint against a nuisance hedge grower to £100; [174581]
(2) when he will report on his consultation on the maximum fee which a local authority can charge persons who wish to make a complaint against a nuisance hedge grower. [174582]
§ Yvette CooperThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will not be deciding the maximum fee which local authorities will be able to charge people making a complaint about a nuisance high hedge until we have analysed the responses to the current public consultation on implementing Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. The consultation period runs until 30 June. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to report the results of the consultation and to bring the legislation into operation towards the end of 2004.