Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the enforcement of rules to prevent metal recycling operators from making cash payments for scrap metal.

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 introduced a robust regulatory regime for the metal recycling industry, including a ban on cash payments for scrap metal.

It is the responsibility of the police and local authorities to ensure that those who trade in scrap metal are compliant with the provisions of the Act including in relation to cash payments, and that action is taken against those rogue dealers who flout the law. We have undertaken a review of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act and will publish a report with our findings shortly.