HC Deb 08 March 1978 vol 945 cc640-1W
Mr. Clemitson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the latest estimate of the number of gipsy families in England and Wales; and what is the number of pitches provided for such families by local authorities expressed as a percentage of the number of families;

(2) if he will list those local authorities which have so far provided no sites for gipsy caravans under the Caravan Sites Act 1968;

(3) what sites have been provided by local authorities for gipsy caravans in pursuance of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 since the publication of Circular 28/77:

(4) what sites have been provided by local authorities for gipsy caravans in pursuance of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 since the inception of the Act; how many pitches each provides; and if he will list them;

(5) if he is satisfied with the response of local authorities to the advice given by his Department in Circular 28/77: and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Marks

As my hon. Friend knows, much of the information required to answer his Questions will not be available until the returns listing the gipsy sites provided at 1st January 1978 have been received from local authorities in about two weeks' time. I shall reply more fully then.