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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of statistics for prosecutions for fly-tipping in England; and, in the light of those, whether local authorities have sufficient powers in relation to fly-tipping.

In 2016/17 there were 1,571 prosecutions by local authorities for fly-tipping offences. Ninety-eight per cent of those prosecutions resulted in a conviction. The 2017/18 figures are due to be published on GOV.UK in the autumn.

This Government is committed to tackling fly-tipping. We work closely with local authorities and the Local Government Association through the National Fly-tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG). It is the responsibility of local authorities to use the full range of enforcement powers available to them to tackle fly-tipping and we encourage them to do so. The NFTPG has published guidance which sets out clearly the powers available to local authorities when tackling fly-tipping. We have strengthened these powers in recent years by introducing fixed penalty notices for small scale fly-tipping and enhancing the ability of local authorities to search and seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers.

Earlier this year we consulted on proposals to introduce a new fixed penalty for householders who pass their waste to a fly-tipper. Subject to Parliamentary approval, we will seek to implement the changes later this year. We will also provide updated guidance for householders about how to ensure their waste is disposed of correctly. As two thirds of fly-tipping contains household waste, these additional measures will give local authorities another tool to tackle fly-tipping. Our strategic approach to waste crime will include further measures to tackle fly-tipping and will be published later this year as part of the Resources and Waste Strategy.