AQW 4407/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, pursuant to AQW 25511/17-22, to provide an update on his Department’s plan to increase the maximum fine for littering to £200, following the public consultation which closed on 18 January 2022.
Asked by John Blair MLA on 11 October 2022
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 11 October 2022
- Answer due by
- 26 October 2022
- Answered
- 25 October 202214 days after tabling
- Priority question
- No
Answer
It is my Department’s intention to amend the Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 to increase the maximum penalty capable of being specified by a District Council:
under Article 6(6A)(a) of the Litter (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 for the offence of littering; and
under section 44(1)(a) of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 for the offence of contravention of a dog control order relating to dog fouling, from £80 to £200.
The amending Regulations, which will be subject to the negative resolution procedure before the Assembly, are currently undergoing scrutiny with Departmental Solicitors and it is anticipated that they will be laid before 31 December 2022.