HC Deb 25 February 1976 vol 906 c243W
58. Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will amend the Caravan Sites Act 1969 to make mandatory on local authorities those sections which are currently permissive.

Mr. John Silkin

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind Part II of the Caravan Sites Act 1968. The main provision of this Part is already mandatory on local authorities: it imposes a duty on county and London borough councils to provide sites for gipsies residing in or resorting to their area. It would not be appropriate to make mandatory the subsidiary provisions.