§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they have received from the Traveller Law Research Unit of Cardiff University regarding the pitch losses since the repeal of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; and what action they will take to ensure that there is sufficient accommodation for Gypsies and other Travellers. [HL1627]
111WA
§ Lord WhittyMy honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions received a copy of a survey of local authority sites prepared by the Traveller Law Research Unit under cover of the noble Lord's letter on 17 March. We are currently considering this document and will compare its findings with those of DETR's annual list of Gypsy sites which is due to be published around Easter this year.
DETR is to commission a research project later this year to look at the management and maintenance of existing Gypsy caravan sites which will also inform our views on future site provision and the issues raised in this survey. We would welcome views from the Travelling community on the project and officials will make contact with the Traveller Law Research Unit and others when work begins.