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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to use the powers available to them to seize vehicles used in fly-tipping activities; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is committed to tackling fly-tipping on a number of fronts. In 2015 we gave local authorities stronger powers to stop, search and seize vehicles of those suspected of fly-tipping. It is the responsibility of local authorities to use the powers available to them and we encourage them to do so when appropriate and proportionate. We are adding to these powers and have consulted this year on a new fixed penalty notice for householders who pass their waste to a fly-tipper. The National Fly-tipping Prevention Group has published guidance which sets out clearly the powers available to local authorities and other partners when tackling fly-tipping.

The powers were enhanced in March 2015 and the data available since then shows a total of 326 vehicles seized by local authorities in England. 197 vehicles were seized in 2016/17, a 52% increase from 129 vehicles seized in 2015/16. The statistics for 2017/18 are due to be published in October. National fly-tipping statistics are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england.