§ 37. Mr. Bill Walkerasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will meet the procurator fiscal for Perth to discuss the number of prosecutions for illegal parking of caravans.
§ The Solicitor-General for Scotland (Mr. Nicholas Fairbairn)My noble and learned Friend and I regularly meet procurators fiscal. As recently as last month I met the procurator fiscal at Perth. Although the unauthorised parking of caravans was not discussed at this meeting, my noble and learned Friend and I are in correspondence with him about this matter.
§ Mr. WalkerI thank my hon. and learned Friend for that reply. Does he acknowledge that a large number of travelling families are illegally parking in my constituency and that the apparent collusion between national and local government officials and the discredited travelling families advisory committee to delay the opening of the Tulloch site is bringing the rule of law in that part of Scotland into disrepute?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandI hope that there will be no delay in the provision of sites for traveling 860 people. Grants of 100 per cent. are available. If there are bureaucratic difficulties, it is up to everybody concerned to get rid of them.
§ Dr. M. S. MillerWill the hon. and learned Gentleman note that there appears to be unauthorised parking of caravans in my constituency at the east end of Blantyre? I should certainly not be party to the prosecution of travelling families, but could not his Department, together with local authorities, clean up sites and make them available to travelling families?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandWith respect, it is not my Department's duty to clean up sites for travelling people. They have 100 per cent. grants. Where there is a problem local authorities should get on with solving it and providing sites.