§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government recommend against those guilty of illegal fly-tipping; and what discussions she has had with the Environment Agency on policy implementation. [188406]
§ Mr. MorleyThe illegal disposal of waste, or fly-tipping, is a serious criminal offence. The current penalties for those found guilty of this offence is a maximum fine of up to £20,000 and two years imprisonment for incidents involving non-hazardous waste and unlimited fines and five years imprisonment for incidents involving hazardous waste. The Government is currently consulting on proposals as part of the Clean Neighbourhoods consultation to increase these penalties.
The Government would like to see the Environment Agency and local authorities take more effective action to prevent and detect fly-tipping and to prosecute those responsible. We are developing, in close consultation with the Agency and local authorities, a whole range of measures to support this strategy and to aid the Agency and local authorities in implanting our policy.
My officials frequently discuss the implementation of Government policy with Environment Agency officials, and Ministers also discuss issues at regular bi-lateral meetings.