HL Deb 20 October 2004 vol 665 cc904-5

(1) Every local housing authority must, when undertaking a review of housing needs in their district under section 8 of the Housing Act 1985 (c. 68), carry out an assessment of the accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers residing in or resorting to their district.

(2) Subsection (3) applies where a local housing authority are required under section 87 of the Local Government Act 2003 (c. 26) to prepare a strategy in respect of the meeting of such accommodation needs.

(3) The local authority who are that local housing authority must take the strategy into account in exercising their functions. Functions" includes functions exercisable otherwise than as a local housing authority.

(4) A local housing authority must have regard to any guidance issued under section (Guidance in relation to section (Duties of local housing authorities: accommodation needs of gypsies and travelers)) in—

  1. (a) carrying out such an assessment as mentioned in subsection (1), and
  2. (b) preparing any strategy that they are required to prepare as mentioned in subsection (2).

(5) In this section—

  1. (a) "gypsies and travellers" has the meaning given by regulations made by the appropriate national authority;
  2. (b) "accommodation needs" includes needs with respect to the provision of sites on which caravans can be stationed; and
  3. (c) "caravan" has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.""

On Question, amendment agreed to.

Lord Rooker moved Amendment No. 216:

After Clause 209, insert the following new clause—