HC Deb 13 March 1975 vol 888 cc227-8W
Mr. Edge

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent he estimates that county councils will be obliged to provide more than one gipsy caravan site per district as a consequence of reorganisation.

Mr. John Silkin :

The statutory obligation on a metropolitan county council is limited to provision for 15 gipsy caravans in each of its districts—though this may in some metropolitan councils fall short of "adequate accommodation" for gipsies residing in or resorting to the county. There is no such limitation on the obligation of non-metropolitan county councils.

It is for a county council to make its own judgment, in the first instance, as to the number and distribution of sites which represents "adequate accommodation ".