§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of genuine travelling families at present based in Scotland.
§ Mr. AncramOn the basis of reports by the Secretary of State's advisory committee on Scotland's travelling people, there are thought to be about 500 to 600 travelling families "on the road" in Scotland.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the powers available to 74W district authorities which have made provision for travelling sites but whose directions are ignored by those for whom the sites are provided.
§ Mr. AncramI am satisfied that the district authorities have adequate powers.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is prepared to meet the financial costs incurred by local authorities in seeking suitable sites to accommodate travellers.
§ Mr. AncramNo. Assistance is available through the provision of 100 per cent. grants on the approved capital costs of providing sites for travelling people.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a system by which local authorities can share the revenue costs for any travelling people's sites built; and if Her Majesty's Government will consider giving financial assistance to meet these revenue costs.
§ Mr. AncramIt is for the local authorities concerned to consider whether relevant current expenditure should be shared in particular cases. I do not propose to introduce any scheme to provide special assistance towards these costs.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the present planning procedures which exist to deal with applications to designate areas to be used by the travelling community.
§ Mr. AncramYes. Where a planning authority proposes to establish an official site for travelling people within it is area, its required under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Development by Planning Authorities) (Scotland) Regulations 1981 to publish a notice of its intentions in a local newspaper. If, as a result of publication of the notice, representations against the development are made, the authority is required to notify my right hon. Friend so that he may decide whether or not to call for a formal planning application to be submitted for his determination. In practice, my right hon. Friend has not found it necessary to date to require tiny such application to be submitted to him.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ascertain how the habitual locations and movements of travelling people have changed in recent years.
§ Mr. AncramThe more important need, from the point of view of resolving such problems as remain, is to assess the number of pitches required for travellers in different parts of Scotland. I have asked the Secretary of State's advisory committee on Scotland's travelling people to undertake this.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will seek to discriminate between genuine travelling people and itinerant dealers who pass themselves off as travellers for the purposes of legislation and non-harassment of travellers.
§ Mr. AncramSection 13 of the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Act 1 982 defines those for whom traveller sites are provided. The policy of non-harassement relates directly to the availability of pitches on such sites.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places there are at each site which 75W have now been opened in Scotland to cater for travelling people; and how many places at new sites are currently being planned.
§ Mr. AncramThe information is as follows:
Local Authority Site Number of pitches Permanent Sites Grampian regional council Clinterty, Aberdeen 20 Cunninghame district council Monkland Wood, Arran 8 Dumbarton district council Dennystoun, Dumbarton 20 Lothian regional council Duddingston, Edinburgh 20 Argyll & Bute district council Dunchologin, Lochgilphead 12 Angus district council Taycock, Montrose 15 Strathclyde regional council Mossend, Bellshill 14 Perth & Kinross district council Double Dykes, Perth 20 129 Temporary Sites Glasgow district council Millerston, Glasgow 12 Kirkcaldy district council Pathhead Muir, Kirkcaldy 15 Monklands district council Heatheryknowe, Coatbridge 15 Renfrew district council Burnbrae, Linwood 14 56 Total number of pitches 185 So far as I am aware, local authorities are giving serious consideration to about 20 new or replacement sites, which might provide approximately 300 pitches.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between local authorities of the cross-boundary nature of the problem of accommodating travelling people.
§ Mr. AncramA number of regional and district councils meet from time to time to discuss progress in providing sites for travellers in their area. I believe that standing arrangements of this sort are the sensible way to achieve the necessary co-ordination.