A Conservative peer has claimed he uses his DVLA contacts to trace British families he spots littering abroad.
Lord Selsdon said he found that British families travelling in large 4X4 cars to go skiing in the Alps were the most badly behaved overseas when it came to dropping rubbish out of vehicles.
He said he occasionally notes down their registration details and claims he is able to later give them a call thanks to “friends” at the DVLA.
Lord Selsdon told the House of Lords: “I find when you look at the international scene that, believe it or not, some of the most badly behaved now are British families in large 4x4s driving to the Alps to ski.
“They are the ones I’ve followed occasionally and, for a bit of fun, I’ve just taken note of their number and occasionally manage because I have friends with DVL(A) to find their telephone and I give them a ring.
“I just say, ‘I’m sorry I happen to be involved in the political world a bit and it was noticed that at a particular point you did this’.”
A spokeswoman for the DVLA said drivers were not obliged to provide their telephone numbers when applying for a licence so that in some cases the agency would not hold the details apparently requested by Lord Selsdon.
She said: “We take our responsibility to protect information seriously. That is why information is only provided under strict controls to those who are legally entitled to it, such as local authorities and the police.”