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 help reduce the number of abandoned caravans in Devon.

The Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 places a duty on councils to remove vehicles that are abandoned on land in the open air or on roads. The definition of vehicle within the act includes trailers designed to be towed behind vehicles. This would include caravans.

This duty applies on private land and private roads. Councils can take enforcement action against people who abandon vehicles by issuing a fixed penalty notice or prosecuting them. It is for councils to determine whether any particular vehicle has been abandoned, and whether it is subject to their duty to remove it. The Government has published guidance for councils on abandoned vehicles at: Abandoned vehicles: local authority responsibilities - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).