§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much of the £22 billion to be spent on "driving forward thinking and sustainable communities", announced by the Deputy Prime Minister on 5 February, is to be spent on accommodation or facilities for gypsies. [HL2382]
§ The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)The £22 billion government package to drive forward thriving and sustainable communities will provide more affordable housing across England. This investment will include homes for key workers, modern built housing, and to improve social housing in deprived areas. However gypsy and traveller sites will not he funded through this mechanism.
On 27 March 2003, my honourable friend the Member for Harrow East announced at the Local Government Association conference that further funding of £16 million will be made available over the next two years from the gypsy sites refurbishment grant to improve and upgrade existing sites, and to establish temporary sites and emergency stopping places.