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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the maximum penalties available for fly-tipping offences.

The Secretary of State has not made a recent assessment.

Local authorities have powers to take enforcement action against offenders. Anyone caught fly-tipping may be prosecuted which can lead to a significant fine, a community sentence or even imprisonment.

Instead of prosecuting, local authorities can choose to issue a fixed penalty notice (on-the-spot fine) of up to £1,000 to fly-tippers and £600 to householders who pass their waste to an unlicensed waste carrier.

Sentencing is a matter for the independent courts. When deciding what sentence to impose, the court will take into account the circumstances of the offence in line with the guidelines issued by the independent Sentencing Council.