questionText: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Clearer rules to support councils in fight against litter louts, published on 3 March 2026, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of increasing the maximum on-the-spot fine for littering to £500 in deterring littering offences.
answerText: Local councils already have legal powers to issue a fixed penalty (on-the-spot fine) of up to £500 for littering offences.
heading: Litter: Fines