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Written question asked by Lord Hanningfield (Non-affiliated) on Tuesday, 22 October 2019, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 November 2019. It was answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Conservative) on Tuesday, 5 November 2019 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Tobacco: Litter

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with individual UK tobacco companies about smoking related litter in the last three years.

Answer

The Government has made no specific assessment of the UK tobacco industry’s contribution to tackling smoking-related litter. The most recent National Litter Survey for England found that 79% of sites surveyed had smoking-related litter present in 2017-18. In the same year, local authorities in England spent £663 million or £28 per household to keep our streets clean, though this does not include spending by other relevant bodies and it is not currently possible to specify how much of this figure is attributable to smoking-related litter.

We would like to see the tobacco industry delivering on the commitment given by the Tobacco Manufacturer’s Association (TMA) to tackle the litter created by its products and their users, but this must be achieved without breaching the UK’s international obligations.

The tobacco industry has not made, or been invited to make, any financial contribution towards delivery of the “Keep It, Bin It” anti-litter campaign. Ministers have met twice with the TMA in the last three years, but the Government has not held discussions with any individual tobacco companies about smoking-related litter.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL290
Session
2019-19
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Litter Manufacturing industries Tobacco
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk