Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Nigel Evans (Conservative). It was answered on Thursday, 31 January 2008 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Chewing Gum

Question: Let us not let Wrigley's wriggle out of this one. [Interruption.] Well, it is as bad as the joke from the hon. Member for Conwy (Mrs. Williams) about light bulbs. The industry probably makes hundreds of millions of pounds from chewing gum and it should be investing much of that in research and development to produce biodegradable chewing gum. While we are waiting for that to happen, will the Minister have a word with the Home Office about enforcement, so that far more of those who spit chewing gum out on to the streets—a disgusting habit—face fines?

Answer: On the hon. Gentleman's final point, it is illegal to drop gum. The Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 gave councils the power to issue fixed penalty notices to people who do so, and councils are increasingly using that power.

Secondary information