HC Deb 19 July 1978 vol 954 cc227-8W
Mr. Ward

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he has reached on the recommendations made by Sir John Cripps in his report "Accommodation for Gypsies", on the working of the Caravan Sites Act 1968; and, despite the views of the author of the report, if he will seek powers to designate district councils, like Peterborough city council, under section 12 of the Act.

Mr. Marks

My right hon. Friends and I have now completed our consideration of the Cripps report and of the comments received from local authorities, gipsy organisations and others.

Today there are probably 6,000 gipsy families who can find no place to camp legally. This means great distress to gipsies and to residents who live near illegal sites. The urgent need, therefore, is for more authorised sites. The measures we propose to take are directed to helping local authorities to meet that need.

First, we shall introduce a specific Exchequer grant to local authorities to cover the capital cost of providing sites. The grant will be at the exceptional level of 100 per cent.; the money to be found within the agreed housing programme year by year. This recommendation of the report will be implemented immediately, in advance of legislation, by using the Appropriation Act.

Second, we have concluded that we should in future be prepared to designate a district where we are satisfied that adequate provision of sites has been made within it. Designation gives local authorities additional powers to deal with unauthorised camping. The Cripps report proposed that designation should continue to be granted on a county basis only, but local authorities were virtually unanimous in their view that the prospect of designation of districts would be a real incentive to the provision of sites. Our decision will give that incentive.

Third, we recognise, as does the report, that London has special problems. We agree with Cripps that in inner London local authorities should not have to provide for more than 15 caravans; in some cases a smaller figure may well be appro- priate. The report concluded that in outer London and the metropolitan areas the position is different, and we accept that analysis. We therefore agree that the duty of these authorities should not automatically be limited to providing for only 15 caravans as it is under the existing legislation, and we propose to remove the limitation. We shall then proceed on the basis which already applies elsewhere in the country, judging designation in relation to the actual situation. I am in urgent consultation with the London Boroughs Association and the adjoining county councils about the provision which needs to be made in London as a whole, taking into account the position in surrounding counties.

Our conclusions on each of the report's recommendations are set out in a statement which has been placed in the Library. A circular will be sent to local authorities as soon as possible. Most of the conclusions can be implemented now, by administrative action; for the rest, we intend to introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity.