Clause 45 - Failure to furnish documentation: fixed penalty notices
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill
11:15 am
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley, Conservative)
I, too, want to speak in favour of the amendment. Traceability is important in respect of fixed-penalty notices for the failure to furnish documentation. We must know exactly what type of controlled waste is being disposed of and in what quantities. As a Conservative, I naturally believe in as little bureaucracy and red tape as possible, but that does not mean getting rid of all of it, as some is of great benefit to the community. I suggest that in this case the bureaucracy is useful in insuring the traceability of controlled waste.
There is an important job to be done in the first place by people who have a licence for this speciality; we are not talking about ordinary people. If those who have a licence fail to comply with the law, it is right that they should know that they will receive a fixed penalty. However, that penalty must act as a deterrent and help to ensure that the licence holders keep the paperwork up to date. They must be aware that someone could call on their business at any stage to see how much waste they are disposing of. Indeed, if some waste has been illegally tipped, they might want to discover the source—
It being twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock, The Chairman adjourned the Committee without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.
Adjourned till this day at half-past Two o'clock.