Environmental Offences (Use of Fixed Penalty Receipts) Regulations 2006

My Lords, 150 parish councils out of 8,000 have the status. The remainder can still use the money for the specified functions for their receipts. The ability of councils to operate fixed-penalty schemes will be addressed through the requirement to attend an approved training course. The requirement that parish councils supply the Secretary of State with information relating to fixed penalties will allow us at Defra to analyse and support councils with low payment rates. There will be a range of issues. Any authorised officer of a district or parish council, together with anyone else authorised by a district or parish council, is able to issue fixed-penalty notices. Furthermore, chief police officers, under the Police Reform Act 2002, can accredit police community support officers; under the Act, they, too, will be able to issue fixed penalties. This may be of great assistance, particularly to the smaller parish councils. I know that the parish councils will wish to keep under review the issues of concern and questions that both noble Baronesses have asked. I am sure that parish councils in particular will welcome the opportunity this will give them to use their powers where appropriate for a parish council—on a beach, for example. I understand that, in the eyes of the parish councils, particularly the smaller ones, the income may not be sufficient to enable them to do all that their local community wishes them to do. But I am quite sure that when good parish councils, of which there are hundreds and hundreds, start to work using these new powers, the local residents will be extremely supportive, because the issues they will be dealing with are of great concern locally. On Question, Motion agreed to.