HC Deb 07 February 1967 vol 740 c266W
61. Sir J. Rodgers

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will seek statutory powers to compel all county authorities to provide sites for gypsies and other travellers so as to relieve the burden on those counties that have already acted under his Department's Local Government Circular No. 26/66.

Mr. MacColl

While my right hon. Friend appreciates the special difficulties of those authorities who have already taken action, the replies to the Circular show that others are planning some action. Legislation will not provide an easy or quick solution and he is not yet satisfied that it will be needed.

69. Mr. Burden

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what he is doing to ensure that steps are being taken by local authorities generally to comply with the proposals, set out in his Department's Circular No. 26/66, for dealing with the problems of gypsies and other travellers.

Mr. MacColl

The replies to the Circular show that local planning authorities are now generally giving serious attention to the problem, although they are not all equally advanced. We shall follow up cases in which the position seems uncertain or unsatisfactory.