HL Deb 11 February 2004 vol 656 c157WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What references there are to Travellers or Gypsies in the regional planning guidance documents. HL1093]

The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)

The general presumption in regional planning guidance (RPG) had been that it should meet the housing requirements of the whole community and not distinguish or discriminate between any particular groups within the community. However, more recently, regional planning bodies have recognised the need to ensure that development plan authorities make adequate provision for Gypsies and Travellers. Policy 28 of RPG8 for the east Midlands and both the submitted policy CF6 and the revised policy CF5 in my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister's proposed changes to RPG 11 for the west Midlands refer to the needs of Gypsies and Travellers. In other regions RPG does not yet contain policies for Gypsies and Travellers.