HL Deb 25 April 1985 vol 462 cc1215-6

3.5 p.m.

Lord Davies of Leek

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultations with local authorities or other efforts they have made to evolve a policy to establish various areas for gipsy encampments in the United Kingdom.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, the Caravan Sites Act 1968, for which my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has general responsibility, places a duty on county councils in England and Wales and on London borough councils to provide sites for gipsies. My department and the Welsh Office have regular contacts with local authorities and the Association of County Councils about gipsy site matters generally.

Lord Davies of Leek

My Lords, in thanking the Minister for that reply I am pleased to see that some compassionate approach is made to this ethnic group of people, whose names are inscribed on many a war memorial, despite their ethnic origin, throughout Europe.

Lord Skelmersdale

Yes, my Lords; the noble Lord is quite right, and it is absolutely right that he should be right.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, I wonder whether the Minister, who has referred to constant contact with local authorities, would care to tell us what the Government are doing to encourage councils to undertake their obligations under the Act, bearing in mind, of course, that land will need to be acquired and rates will need to be raised at the present time, when this is exceedingly difficult?

Lord Skelmersdale

No, my Lords, because councils get a 100 per cent. Exchequer grant for these sites.

Lord Renton

My Lords, does my noble friend's statement apply to genuine ethnic gipsies only, or does it apply also to the ever-increasing numbers of didicois—people who merely go on to the roads with caravans and live, and move from place to place, sometimes to escape trouble?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, I can tell my noble friend that there is a statutory definition of the word "gipsy" which runs as follows: A person of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin".