The Rt Hon. George Eustice MP Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House 17 Smith Square London SW1P 3JR

Our Ref: EC5002 23 July 2020

Dear George,

RE: Keep Britain Tidy – Smoking Litter

I have been contacted by the Keep Britain Tidy campaign and the Tidy Britain APPG, of which I am a supporter, regarding their concerns around smoking related litter.

As the Member of Parliament for a London constituency, I am very aware of the problems posed by smoking related litter, particularly cigarette butts, and this issue has been raised with me by constituents since I have been elected.

I know that KBT and the APPG are concerned that there is very little incentive, whether “carrot” or “stick” for major tobacco companies in the UK to press for litter related activities; I believe that it was recently reported that the total financial contribution is around £70k per year, when the clean-up costs spiral into the millions for the taxpayer.

I should be very grateful if you could set out the Goverment’s position on this, particularly as we leave the EU and look toward our own gold-star environmental standards and protections, which I know you are hugely committed to. My constituents would also be interested in any schemes that may be under consideration to encourage the tobacco industry to take additional responsibility, as producers, for tobacco litter, perhaps alongside the Resources and Waste Strategy and our landmark 25 Year Environment Plan.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. With best wishes,

Elliot Colburn Conservative Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington

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