This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31882078
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tobacco tax 'must help clear litter' - MPs | Tobacco tax 'must help clear litter' - MPs |
| (30 days later) | |
| Tax earned from tobacco sales should be used to help with the cost of clearing up cigarette litter, MPs have said. | Tax earned from tobacco sales should be used to help with the cost of clearing up cigarette litter, MPs have said. |
| A Communities and Local Government Committee report also calls for laws forcing businesses to keep the outside of their premises free from rubbish. | A Communities and Local Government Committee report also calls for laws forcing businesses to keep the outside of their premises free from rubbish. |
| It stopped short of calling for a "chewing gum tax" - but warned the industry "to put its house in order". | It stopped short of calling for a "chewing gum tax" - but warned the industry "to put its house in order". |
| Local Government Minister Kris Hopkins said the government was funding a number of schemes to tackle littering. | Local Government Minister Kris Hopkins said the government was funding a number of schemes to tackle littering. |
| The cost of cleaning up litter in England is estimated to be about £850m, the report says. | The cost of cleaning up litter in England is estimated to be about £850m, the report says. |
| Chewing gum and smoking materials are the biggest litter problems, it says. | Chewing gum and smoking materials are the biggest litter problems, it says. |
| The cross-party committee also found that the amount of fast food litter in England has increased by about 20% in the last year. It recommended that shops, restaurants and fast food chains be compelled by law to keep the outsides of their premises rubbish-free. | The cross-party committee also found that the amount of fast food litter in England has increased by about 20% in the last year. It recommended that shops, restaurants and fast food chains be compelled by law to keep the outsides of their premises rubbish-free. |
| Fly-tipping levels have also risen by about 20%, and new fixed penalty notices should be introduced for people who dump household items, the MPs said. | Fly-tipping levels have also risen by about 20%, and new fixed penalty notices should be introduced for people who dump household items, the MPs said. |
| Committee chairman Clive Betts said councils were spending "hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money fighting a losing battle" against litter. | Committee chairman Clive Betts said councils were spending "hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money fighting a losing battle" against litter. |
| "Handing a portion of tobacco levies to local councils to help pay for the cost of clearing cigarette litter would show government is serious about getting tough on litter," he said. | "Handing a portion of tobacco levies to local councils to help pay for the cost of clearing cigarette litter would show government is serious about getting tough on litter," he said. |
| Local Government Minister Kris Hopkins said industry should play a part in clearing up litter where appropriate but that "most of all it is up to individuals not to drop rubbish in the first place". | Local Government Minister Kris Hopkins said industry should play a part in clearing up litter where appropriate but that "most of all it is up to individuals not to drop rubbish in the first place". |
| "Litter is costing council taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds every year before we even get to the eyesore it causes and the environmental cost," he said. | "Litter is costing council taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds every year before we even get to the eyesore it causes and the environmental cost," he said. |
| "That's why we are abolishing backdoor tip taxes and have supported weekly bin collections to help stop fly-tipping and bin blight." | "That's why we are abolishing backdoor tip taxes and have supported weekly bin collections to help stop fly-tipping and bin blight." |
| The government is funding projects including Clean Up Britain, Keep Britain Tidy, and a national community clear-up day on 21 March to tackling littering, he added. | The government is funding projects including Clean Up Britain, Keep Britain Tidy, and a national community clear-up day on 21 March to tackling littering, he added. |