§ 38. Mr. John Townendasked Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to alleviate the problems associated with travelling people.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe main Government contribution is payment of 100 per cent. grant to local authorities to cover the cost of providing or improving sites for gipsy caravans. In the last financial year grant aid of £3.6 million was given and the estimate for the current year is £4.5 million.
Once appropriate provision has been made for gipsies by the local authority its area can be designated under section 12 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 as an area where the additional powers of control provided in sections 10 and 11 apply. In the last 12 months five designation orders have been made. Applications for further orders are being considered.