To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fixed penalty notices for (a) litter and (b) illegal dumping in Northern Ireland (i) were issued, (ii) were paid, (iii) were rescinded and (iv) remained outstanding six months later in each of the last three years. (76646)

The Department of the Environment does not hold information on the number of fixed penalty notices issued for littering. There are currently no legislative powers to issue fixed penalty notices for illegal dumping. However, The Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 permitted councils to retain receipts from fixed penalty notices issued for littering and dog fouling from 1 December 2005. It also gave the Department of the Environment the power to obtain information on the use of its fixed penalty receipts. Information on the use of the receipts, together with other relevant information, will be requested after the scheme has been operating for one year.