§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions if he will provide advice to local authorities on time scales for consultation with health and welfare authorities before proceeding to evict unauthorised campers. [9473]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 18 July 1997]: My Department has commissioned researchers from the university of Birmingham to examine the scope for disseminating good practice for local authorities to deal with unauthorised camping. The research is well under way and includes discussions with local authorities on how they liaise with the relevant statutory agencies when deciding whether to evict unauthorised campers. We want to encourage all relevant agencies to work together and to be clear about each other's responsibilities.
§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers exist for local authorities to evict unauthorised campers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 when health and welfare authorities do not respond to consultations on individual cases. [9330]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 18 July 1997]: Local authorities intending to use their powers in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to direct unauthorised campers to leave land should make reasonable attempts to ascertain the campers' health and welfare needs before deciding whether eviction is justified. They need to inquire first from the campers themselves if they are receiving assistance from health and welfare services. Even if they are not, this does not mean that they do not need assistance. If it appears that assistance is being received, or is needed, local authorities should liaise with the relevant statutory agencies; the local authority may well at this stage have sufficient information to assess whether it would be justified in evicting.
It is important that local authorities maintain close relationships with the statutory agencies and that, if those agencies have relevant information, this is made known.