§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many county councils have now responded in full to the obligations placed upon them by the Caravan Sites Act 1968;
(2) what action he proposes to take against those county councils who have not implemented the duties placed upon them by the Caravan Sites Act 1968;
(3) whether, in view of the need for national economy, he will consider amending the Caravan Sites Act 1968 to relieve county authorities of their responsibilities.
§ Mr. MonroOnly Dorset county council has so far provided adequate accommodation for gipsies, as required by the 1968 Act, but other county councils are developing appropriate programmes of site provision. No immediate action against any authority for non-implementation nor any repeal of the duty of site provision is envisaged.
§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the current cost to date from central Government in providing caravan sites for gipsies and other travellers in county areas;
(2) what sum of money has been set aside specifically for funding the provision of caravan sites for gipsies and other travellers in county areas; and what savings have been made because of the refusal or inability of county councils to take up the money available.
§ Mr. MonroJust over £1,300,000 has been paid in grant to local authorities providing sites. No specific sums have been set aside for further expenditure498W but PESC programmes contain estimates which have to date been closely matched by expenditure and no savings have therefore been made through any lack of take-up.