§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the light of the shortage of at least 4,000 to 5,000 pitches for gipsy families, if he will now take steps to encourage the development of approved private sites in order to reduce the amount of nuisance caused to residents in areas where gipsies park without permission.
§ Mr. MonroLocal authorities are already advised that the special need to accommodate gipsies and the consequences of not accommodating them should be taken into account as a material consideration in making planning decisions about private sites. The Cripps report stressed the need for this. We are now considering what further measures might be taken to encourage and assist gipsies to make their own site provision where-ever possible.