23. To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2007, Official Report, column 1813W, on road signs and markings: advertising, what further progress has been made on the removal of unauthorised roadside advertisements. (141610)

The recent introduction of the unlawful advertisements and fly-posting database has given local planning authorities a better opportunity to work together to secure prosecution of persistent offenders. Local planning authorities have enthusiastically welcomed the database. There are 162 local planning authorities using the database and 185 records of successful prosecution cases on it.