§ Mr. Iain Millsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will exercise his powers to designate the 462W Solihull council area under the Caravan Sites Act 1968, as amended by the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980, as an area where courts have enhanced powers to deal with illegal occupation of land by itinerants.
§ Mr. Neil MacfarlaneMy right hon. Friend is prepared to consider an application for designation of any area where it appears that adequate provision for the accommodation of gipsies exists. In the case of a district such as Solihull an application would need to be made jointly by the district and county councils after appropriate consultations. At present no such application has been received.