Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 14343 on Litter, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the compliance of (a) local authorities and (b) outsourced companies with the provisions of the non-statutory Code of Practice on issuing fines to receive greater (i) revenue and (ii) profits.

Local authorities remain responsible for the whole enforcement process. Authorities that outsource any area of enforcement to private companies should ensure that the contractor fulfils all the requirements set down for the authority itself.

This position is set down in existing advisory guidance on enforcement of environmental offences available here.