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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps (a) his Department and (b) Natural England are taking to help tackle large-scale illegal waste dumping in ancient woodlands; and if he will review the adequacy of enforcement processes where (i) substantial environmental damage and (ii) tax evasion are suspected.

In the first instance, landowners are responsible for the security and integrity of their property. The ownership of such woodland can often be complex and split across hundreds of individual parcels. The Environment Agency (EA) is the lead authority for investigating large scale illegal deposits of waste. However other partner agencies such as Natural England may also play a role in associated activity for example if tipping occurs within a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Where substantial environmental damage is suspected the EA will work quickly to gather evidence to show a risk of serious pollution to meet the legal requirements for a Restriction Order. Natural England also has a suite of enforcement powers that can address damage to protected sites.

The EA hosts the Joint Unit for Waste Crime which brings together the EA, HMRC, National Crime Agency, the police, waste regulators from across the UK and other operational partners to share intelligence and tasking to disrupt and prevent serious organised waste crime. The EA has also launched its Economic Crime Unit which targets the financial motivation behind offending and uses financial mechanisms to inhibit the ability of offenders, including Organised Crime Groups, to operate.