HC Deb 19 July 1962 vol 663 cc608-10
11. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the present situation in Kent, what approach has been made by the county council for assistance in finding sites for gypsies and other travellers in accordance with the offer in his Departmental Circular No. 6/62; what discussions have taken place between the officials of his Department and of the county council; and what progress has been made to deal with the problems involved.

Mr. Corfield

Several discussions between representatives of the Department and of the county council on how best to meet the needs disclosed by the council's survey in February show that it is bound to take time to find and provide suitable sites. But the county council is meeting the district councils this week and my right hon. Friend very much hopes that there will be some results from this.

Mr. Dodds

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that in one incident in January 300 people were deposited by the local authority on the side of one of Britain's main trunk roads? So far only pious hopes have been expressed about it. Is the hon. Gentleman further aware that I am deeply grateful to his right hon. Friend's predecessor for the wonderful spadework he has done in this respect? I ask the hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend not to waste time and allow that work to be frittered away before the winter.

Mr. Corfield

I assure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend is determined to show the same enthusiasm as was shown by his predecessor. I assume that the hon. Gentleman was referring to the A.2. As he knows, a planning appeal is pending, and we shall deal with that as quickly as we possibly can.

Mr. C. Hughes

In view of the paucity of information about gypsies, will the hon. Gentleman discuss with his right hon. Friend the possibility of publishing a White Paper when these surveys have been completed, giving a summary of the findings so that the House and the country may be in a better position to judge what should be done for them?

Mr. Corfield

I will certainly consider that suggestion, or any other means of making the information public.

16. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the nature of the replies from the Buckingham County Council and the Essex County Council to his Circular No. 6/62 of 8th February, 1962, on the gypsy problem.

Mr. Corfield

The Buckingham County Council has stated that it is making a survey of the problem and will inform my right hon. Friend of the result. We have not yet heard from the Essex County Council.

Mr. Dodds

Will the Parliamentary Secretary bear in mind that both counties have shocking records in this respect, and that the Essex County Council recently got rid of 100 of these people, with their caravans and animals, from county council ground, by dumping them on the side of the main London-Southend road? Will he bear in mind that because of persecution in Essex, through its failure to face the problem, many of these people have been driven over to Kent? That is not a solution.

Mr. Corfield

I certainly undertake to look into that problem and communicate with the hon. Member.

Mr. C. Hughes

In view of the urgency of this problem, can the Parliamentary Secretary say when he expects the results of these surveys to reach him, and when he will be able to give the House some indication of the action which the Government will take in this matter?

Mr. Corfield

I expect that this will be almost immediately after the House resumes after the Summer Recess.

29. Mr. R. Edwards

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy in regard to Circular No. 6/62 of 8th February, 1962, on gypsies and other travellers.

Mr. Corfield

My right hon. Friend is glad to have this opportunity to endorse the policy set out in Circular No. 6/62, and hopes that action on the lines suggested in the circular will be taken by the local authorities concerned wherever the need arises.

Mr. Edwards

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the circular issued by the previous Minister was a very human and constructive document, and that hon. Members on this side of the House who are concerned about human rights hope that this policy will be pressed forward so that the plight of the Romanies and other travellers will be alleviated at least by the winter?

Mr. Corfield

I think that I made clear in Answers to earlier Questions that it is the desire of my right hon. Friend to pursue, the policy of his predecessor with equal vigour. I can assure the hon. Member that there is no monopoly of humanity on the other side of the House.