§ 7.8 pm
§ Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire) (Lab)The petition that I shall present is from genuine Gypsies, who are more than pleased to be called Gypsies. It has been organised by Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group and is signed by members of 14 organisations, including the National Association of Gypsy Women and the United Kingdom Romani Gypsy Council. It has 2,517 signatures and seeks non-discrimination against Gypsies, especially on planning matters. It is signed by Siobhan Spencer of the Ernest Bailey community centre on New street in Matlock, Derbyshire as well as the other signatories.
The petition states:
To the House of Commons
The Petition of the Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group and supporters declares
That Gypsy people have for centuries been in the United Kingdom, and that we are a distinct group, sharing common ancestors, a distinct language, cultural beliefs and a common oral history.
The Petitioners therefore request the House of Commons to urge the Secretary of State at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to introduce amendments to the 1/94 guidelines on planning and settlement applications to align them with the Mandla criteria of 1988 in order to prevent racial discrimination against Romani and other ethnic Traveller peoples, the Irish Traveller community having received ethnic status in 2000.
And your Petitioners remain, etc.
To lie upon the Table.