Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department uses to classify a trunk road as special for the purposes of holding responsibilities to keep the highway clear of litter under Section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and whether he plans to designate any trunk roads as special for the purposes of holding responsibilities to keep the highway clear of litter under Section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

A trunk road is classified as special if are restrictions on the types of vehicles which can use them, for example a Motorway. The Government has no plans to alter this definition.

Under Section 86 of the Environmental Protection Act (1990) any transfer of litter clearance responsibility would need to be requested by National Highways after consultations with relevant Local Authorities. It is important to take a proportionate, evidence-based approach which recognises the pressures on Local Authority resources and costs associated with roadside litter clearance. The Government expects National Highways to work collaboratively with Local Authorities to solve local issues and keep roadsides clear of litter and refuse as far as is practicable.