asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps the Environment Agency will take to ensure the elimination of illegal operators of waste disposal services, which are allegedly still functioning in certain localities. [HL4455]

The recently published waste strategy for England 2007 sets out the Government's commitment to extend the range of powers available so that the Environment Agency and local authorities can be more flexible when dealing with all forms of illegal waste activity.

The agency is currently working closely with the Government on a review of the controls on the handling, transfer and transport of waste with an aim to simplify and modernise regulations that apply to illegal waste activity. Revised controls will make it easier for businesses to understand waste regulation and enable enforcing authorities to use their powers to prevent and tackle illegal waste activity more effectively.

The Environment Agency is working alongside the Government on a number of other measures to prevent and tackle illegal waste disposal, including:

targeted and risk-based enforcement;

strengthened export controls;

improving compliance by waste producers and others in the waste management chain;

simplifying legislation and guidance to encourage compliance;

improving data and information to help compliance and target offenders;

enabling more joined-up enforcement action by the Environment Agency and local authorities; and

ensuring that well prepared cases are bought to prosecution to enable the courts to punish offenders accordingly.