HC Deb 27 July 1979 vol 971 cc652-3W
Mr. John H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he is now having with the South Yorkshire county council and the Sheffield district council about gipsy sites in South Yorkshire;

(2) what has been the cost of the work to date on the Redmires gipsy site; how much of this has been incurred since 5 July; and what now will be the extent of Her Majesty Government's grant to meet this work;

(3) in view of the fact that the Sheffield district council and the South Yorkshire council have permitted work to continue on the Redmires site, in Hallam, Sheffield, after the letter of 5 July from the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam, if he will ensure that none of the cost of this work will fall on Treasury funds under the Cripps scheme.

Mr. King

In view of the difficulties associated with the Redmires scheme, I asked for work there to stop pending discussion about gipsy caravan sites in Sheffield as a whole; no meeting has yet been arranged. I have no detailed information on the cost of the work done so far. Until there has been further discussion with the county and city councils I cannot form a view on the eligibility for grant of expenditure at Redmires.