HC Deb 08 August 1980 vol 990 cc498-9W
Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to enable district councils to deal adequately with providing sufficient sites for gipsies in their area, and for dealing with gipsies that occupy unofficial sites, the caring and protection of which need powers of eviction.

Mr. Monro

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn and Hatfield (Mr. Murphy) on 29 July.—[Vol. 989, c. 625.]

Mr. Speller

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the sites designated for use by gipsy families in transit are intended for use by Romany gipsies only or may be used by itinerant travellers including tinkers or caravan dwellers.

Mr. Monro

Gipsy caravan sites provided by a local authority under the terms of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 are to provide accommodation for all those gipsies, as defined in section 16 of that Act, who reside in resort to that area.

Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to take action against any county council which, by 1981, has not designated gipsy caravan sites; and whether he proposes action against those counties which to date have provided only one or two official gipsy caravan sites.

Mr. Monro

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

Forward to