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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to enable the seizure of vehicles involved in fly tipping and illegal dumping.

Local authorities and the Environment Agency currently have powers to seize vehicles and property under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989.

We are currently consulting on proposals to commence similar powers under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 and introduce new regulations, setting out revised procedures in respect of the stop, search and seizure of vehicles suspected of being involved in waste crime, including fly-tipping and illegal dumping of waste. The revised procedures will make it easier for local authorities and the Environment Agency to exercise the powers in order to identify who is responsible for committing waste offences. Subject to the outcome of the consultation we plan to make the Commencement Order and lay the revised regulations in March this year.