Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to strengthen enforcement against persistent fly-tipping offenders; and what support is available to local authorities to improve detection, prosecu
Answer
This Government recognises the impact of fly-tipping. This Government is determined to tackle the scourge of fly-tipping and ensure persistent offenders face the consequences. We have increased maximum fixed penalties to £5,000, published guidance supporting councils in seizing vehicles, secured powers for statutory enforcement guidance, and consulted on requiring offenders to put right the harm they cause.17% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (63/100)
The reply gives concrete enforcement measures aimed at offenders, including raising maximum fixed penalties to £5,000, publishing vehicle seizure guidance, and consulting on making offenders put right the harm they cause. Support for councils is only partly covered: the seizure guidance and statutory enforcement guidance are specific, but the reply says nothing about improving detection or prosecution. A member of the public would have a clear picture of the offender-focused measures but would likely need to ask a follow-up about detection and prosecution.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the department is doing about strengthening enforcement against persistent fly-tipping offenders. | Addressed | Direct | The reply describes concrete enforcement measures aimed at offenders: raising maximum fixed penalties to £5,000, publishing guidance on vehicle seizure, securing powers for statutory enforcement guidance, and consulting on making offenders put right the harm they cause. The 'vibes' commitment in statement 2 adds nothing specific, but the concrete measures in the other statements answer the item. |
| What support is available to local authorities to improve the detection and prosecution of fly-tipping (the question is truncated after 'prosecu'). | Partially Addressed | Direct | Guidance supporting councils in seizing vehicles and statutory enforcement guidance are concrete forms of support to local authorities, but the reply says nothing specific about improving detection or prosecution, which the item asks about, so the answer is incomplete. |