§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many sites exist for gipsies and other itinerant travellers; and what is the approximate number of places on those sites together with the cost of providing such sites and places;
(2) what his Department believes to be the approximate number of gipsies and other itinerant travellers presently on the roads;
(3) what grants are available to local authorities for the provision of sites for gipsies and other itinerant travellers; and if he has any intention of increasing those grants in the light of growing inflation.
§ Mr. MonroIt is estimated that there are some 8,000 to 9,000 gipsy families, totalling about 50,000 travellers, in England and Wales. The half-yearly count of caravans in England on 17 January 1979 indicated that 4,182 caravans were accommodated on authorised private and local authority sites and that about the same number were on unauthorised encampments.684W A separate annual return showed that on 1 January 1979 there were 179 local authority sites in England and Wales providing 2,821 pitches.
Information is not available about the cost of sites provided in former years. New sites now being developed under the Government grant system are generally to somewhat higher standards, and costs are affected by a number of factors; on a fully equipped site the costs average about £10,000 per pitch.
Grant is at present available to local authorities for 100 per cent. of the capital cost of providing sites for gipsies. The continuance of this grant beyond the end of this financial year is a matter Which we are at present considering.