HC Deb 25 October 1962 vol 664 cc195-200W
Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs (1) what progress has been made by the Durham County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(2)what progress has been made by the Gloucestershire County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(3) what was the result of the survey by the Soke of Peterborough County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(4) what was the result of the survey by the Staffordshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(5) if he will give the main details sent to him by county councils in England and Wales arising from the survey requested in Circular No. 6/62 of 8th February, 1962, on the problem of gypsies and other travellers.

(6) in view of the plight of many gypsies and other travellers in Essex, on what date the county council replied to Circular No. 6/62 of 8th February, 1962; what explanation has been given for the delay in replying; and what action is to be taken, and when, to deal with the situation;

(7) what progress has been made in providing the 10 permanent sites for gypsies and other travellers in Kent to avoid the hardships and distress suffered by these people in previous winters;

(8) if he will give details of the progress made on the provision of permanent sites for gypsies and other travellers in England and Wales during the winter months so as to avoid the distress of previous years;

(9) on what date the Cambridgeshire County Council replied to Circular No. 6/62 of 8th February, 1962, on gypsies and other travellers; and what proposals have been made;

(10) when the Devon County Council replied to Circular No. 6/62; and what was the nature of the reply;

(11) if he will give the date and nature of the reply of the Herefordshire County Council to Circular No. 6/62;

(12) what reply has been received to Circular No. 6/62 from the Isle of Ely County Council; and what action is to be taken in that county to deal with the problem of gypsies and other travellers;

(13) what the Isle of Wight County Council proposes to do for gypsies and other travellers following consideration of Circular No. 6/62;

(14) what was the date of the reply of the Lancashire County Council to Circular No. 6/62; and what action is to be taken in that county to deal with the problem of gypsies and other travellers;

(15) what was the date of the reply of the London County Council to Circular No. 6/62 on gypsies and other travellers; and what action is to be taken by that county council in respect of the problems involved;

(16) in view of the plight of gypsies and other travellers an Middlesex what was the result of the survey by the county council on gypsies and other travellers; and what action is to be taken to deal with the situation;

(17) what was the result of the survey by the Bedfordshire County Council of gypsies and other travellers;

(18) what was the result of the survey by the Buckinghamshire County Council of gypsies and other travellers;

(19) what was the result of the survey of the Cheshire County Council of gypsies and other travellers;

(20) what was the result of the survey by the Derbyshire County Council of gypsies and other travellers;

(21) what was the result of the survey by the Lincolnshire, Holland, County Council on gypsies and other travellers.

(22) what was the result of the survey by the Norfolk County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(23) what was the result of the survey by the Hampshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers.

(24) what was the result of the survey by the Huntingdonshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers.

(25) what was the result of the survey by the Northumberland County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(26) what was the result of the survey by the Shropshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(27) what was the result of the survey by the West Suffolk County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(28) what was the result of the survey by the Warwickshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(29) what was the result of the survey by the Wiltshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(30) what was the result of the survey by the Yorkshire, East Riding, County Council on gypsies and other travellers.

(31) what was the result of the survey by the Yorkshire, North Riding, County Council on gypsies and other travellers.

(32) what was the result of the survey by the Anglesey County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(33) what was the result of the survey by the Cardiganshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(34) what was the result of the survey by the Caernarvonshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(35) what was the result of the survey by the Denbighshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(36) what was the result of the survey by the Flintshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(37) what was the result of the survey by the Montgomeryshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(38) what was the result of the survey by the Pembrokeshire County Council on gypsies and other travellers;

(39) what progress has been made by the Hertfordshire County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(40) what progress has been made by the Lincolnshire, Lindsey, County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(41) what progress has been made by the Lincolnshire, Kesteven, County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(42) what progress has been made by the Surrey County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(43) what progress has been made by the West Sussex County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(44) what progress has been made by the Worcestershire County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers:

(45) what progress has been made by the Monmouthshire County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(46) what progress has been made by the Glamorganshire County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(47) how and when the Nottinghamshire County Council replied to Circular No. 6/62;

(48) what was the nature and what was the date of the reply of the Rutland County Council to Circular No. 6/62;

(49) what progress has been made by the Cumberland County Council in providing sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(50) what progress has been made by the Dorset County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(51) what progress has been made by the Berkshire County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers as requested in Circular No. 6/62;

(52) what progress has been made by the Cornwall County Council in providing special sites for gypsies and other travellers;

(53) if he will give the date and nature of the reply by the Carmarthenshire County Council to Circular No. 6/62 on gypsies and other travellers;

(54) what were the date and the nature of the reply by the Radnorshire County Council to Circular No. 6/62.

(55) what was the date of the reply by the Yorkshire, West Riding, County Council to Circular No. 6/62; and if he will give details of the information supplied;

(56) when the Somerset County Council replied to Circular No. 6/62; and what proposals have been put for- ward for dealing with the problem of gypsies and other travellers in that county.

(57) what information has been supplied by the East Suffolk County Council in reply to Circular No. 6/62.

Mr. Corfield

Replies have now been received from all county councils in England and Wales in connection with the surveys of gypsies and caravan dwellers suggested in Circular No. 6/62.

The councils of the following counties have stated that they have no such problem in their areas or that it is not so great as to require the provision of permanent sites:

Bedford, Cambridge, Cumberland, Devon, Essex, Hereford, Huntingdon, Isle of Wight, Leicester, Lincoln (Holland), London, Northampton, Northumberland, Nottingham, Oxford, Rutland, Soke of Peterborough, East Suffolk, East Sussex, Warwick, Westmorland, Wiltshire, York (North Riding); Anglesey, Brecknock, Caernarvon, Denbigh, Flint, Merioneth, Montgomery, Radnor.

The councils of the following counties have either not yet completed or are considering the results of their surveys:

Cheshire, Derby, Hampshire, Lancashire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Salop, Stafford, Worcester; Cardigan, Pembroke.

The councils of the following counties are considering the provision of permanent sites, as suggested in the Circular, in consultation with the district councils concerned:

Berkshire, Buckingham, Cornwall, Dorset, Durham, Gloucester, Hertford, Isle of Ely, Kent, Lincoln (Kesteven), Lincoln (Lindsey), Somerset, West Suffolk, Surrey, West Sussex, York (East Riding), York (West Riding); Carmarthen, Glamorgan, Monmouth.

The councils of the following counties replied to the Circular on the dates indicated:

Cambridge, 25th September, 1962.

Devon, 8th August, 1962.

Essex, 27th July, 1962.

Hereford, 1st August, 1962.

Lancashire, 20th August, 1962.

London, 2nd October, 1962.

Nottingham, 28th September, 1962.

Rutland, 30th August, 1962.

Somerset, 25th September, 1962.

York (West Riding), 19th July, 1962.

Carmarthen, 22nd August, 1962.

Radnor, 6th September, 1962.

My right hon. Friend is in touch with a number of the authorities, including the Essex County Council, about the results of their surveys and the further measures required.