§ Mr.Clemitsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what meetings he has had in the last three months with voluntary bodies concerned with the welfare of gipsies.
§ Mr.MarksMy right hon. Friend has had no such meetings. I have had a meeting with the Romany Guild, and met Gipsy Council representatives on particular problems. Officials of the Department are in regular contact with these bodies on a wide range of subjects arising from the Department's responsibilities in connection with the provision of gipsy caravan sites. During the past three months they have met representatives of the Minority Rights Group, Society of Friends, Save the Children Fund, Advisory Committee for the Education of Romany and other Travellers, Romany Guild, Association of Gipsy Organisations, and gipsy support groups from Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire. In addition, the National Gipsy Council has taken part in meetings between officials of the Department and the Berkshire, Salop, Staffordshire and Hereford and Worcester County Councils, and the Romany Guild in one with the212W Waltham Forest London Borough Council.