§ Mr. Bill Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has available any estimate of the number of travelling people moving about (a) Scotland and (b) Perth and Kinross district without permanent homes.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThe second report of my advisory committee on Scotland's travelling people, published in 1978, estimated that the travelling population "on the road" in Scotland was of the order of 500 families. Recent indications are that this figure remains a reasonable estimate. The assessment of the numbers of travelling people in particular areas is a matter for individual local authorities. I understand that a census conducted by Perth and Kinross district council in October 1981 found 103 families in the area.