Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the collection of litter takes place on the A23 from Crawley to Brighton; and if he will make a statement.

Mr John Hayes, Minister of State, Department for Transport: In April, the Government released the ‘Litter Strategy for England’[1], outlining an initiative to identify and target the 25 top litter ‘hotspots’ on the strategic road network and establishing a working group on roadside litter. This includes representatives from local councils, Highways England, road users and others, to explore and understand the practical barriers to keeping all our roadsides clear of litter, and to help identify and promote best-practice in roadside litter prevention.

Litter collection on the A23 between Crawley and Brighton is the responsibility of Mid Sussex District Council and Brighton & Hove City Council. They have an obligation to ensure litter is collected. Nevertheless, Highways England is engaging with local authorities, including these Councils, on a more collaborative approach to litter clearance.

This builds upon Highways England’s work, as operator of the strategic road network, in sending out a four-weekly programme to notify local authorities of their routine maintenance works on trunk roads, which can help councils to coordinate their litter collections.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/litter-strategy-for-england

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