10. Mr. J. Wellsasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has been made in the past two months in persuading the Essex County Council to make proper provision for winter camping sites for the gypsies who normally gain their summer livelihood within that county.
§ Mr. CorfieldI understand that the Essex County Council is looking for suitable sites and will be holding discussions with the district councils concerned when sites have been found.
Mr. WellsIs it not manifestly unfair that the ratepayers of Kent should be burdened by providing sites and having the disamenity of Essex gypsies unloaded on to them every winter when these people find their living in the summer in Essex? Surely the Essex County Council should at least play the same active part as the Kent County Council is playing.
§ Mr. CorfieldAs I think my hon. Friend knows, as a result of a survey in March, 1962, the Essex County Planning Committee decided to take no action because of the small number of caravans involved. He also probably knows that, as a result of a conference which I convened and at which I took the chair, Essex County Council agreed to reconsider its attitude and is now seeking sites, as I have informed the House.