§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the cost to local authorities of cleaning up areas which have been temporarily inhabited by travellers.[31049]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe cost to local authorities of cleaning up traveller sites is not collected centrally.
My Department provides guidance to local authorities in Circular no. 18/94 "Gypsy Sites Policy and Unauthorised Camping" advising that they should consider providing emergency stopping places for gipsies who visit their area regularly. The provision of such sites, perhaps with basic sanitary and refuse collection facilities, may deter gipsies from camping on more unsuitable public and private land.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the current number of travellers in the North West Region. [31053]
§ Mr. RaynsfordMy Department publishes a biannual count of caravans occupied by gipsies (defined in law as "persons of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin"). The latest available figures show a total of 1,188 gipsy caravans in the North West on 16 July 1997. Of these, 395 vans were on authorised council sites; 448 were on authorised privately owned sites; and 345 were on unauthorised sites. My Department does not hold details about the numbers of gipsies, or other travellers, themselves.