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News Release 17th April 2003RUBBISH FINESMichael Fabricant is concerned that John Prescott's latest plan - to fine residents £500 a year if they don't recycle their rubbish - is unfair to residents who live in Lichfield District, and any other council area which recycles its rubbish. He will be taking this matter up in Parliament. "I don't think this latest scheme has been thought through at all" says Michael Fabricant. "The Local Government Bill will require dustmen to snoop through people's rubbish and check whether plastics, food, paper and so on have all been separated properly. If they have not, residents can be fined £10 each week. If they don't pay, they can face a prison sentence. "This is unfair to local residents. Lichfield now recycles over 90% of its rubbish and the new system makes Lichfield Council one of the greenest in the country. But in Westminster, they have the old system where all the rubbish goes in one plastic bag so residents there - including John Prescott - can't be fined. "While I am keen that we all do our bit for recycling in Lichfield, I don't want people snooping in my green boxes! I shall now take this matter up in Parliament and ask how the Government intends to reconcile the fact that their latest stealth tax, there's been 53 so far, could penalise people living in green council areas while those living in Westminster will get off scott free! Where's the fairness in that?" he asks. |
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