Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made in the effectiveness of community service at removing litter in communities.

The Government is investing an additional £93m in Community Payback over the next three years, which will allow us to increase delivery of Community Payback up to 8m hours per year. There will be a particular focus on delivering more outdoor projects that improve local areas and allow the public to see justice being done.

Community Payback plays a key role in clearing up communities, working in partnership with Local Authorities and the voluntary sector. For example, during the 2022 Community Payback Spring Clean week teams across England and Wales delivered over 300 visible projects, amounting to 10,000 hours of unpaid work and 2200 bags of litter collected. Community Payback will build on this success in the upcoming 2023 dedicated spring clean event. Clearing litter is a routine activity undertaken as part of Community Payback, for example we also clean up through national partnerships with organisations like the Canal & River Trust.