§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of problems which have arisen in towns like Stirling, if he will seek to amend the law dealing with the provision of sites for travelling people so that sites without adequate sanitation in town centres may not be designated; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramI do not consider amendment of the law to be necessary. Sites provided for the use of travelling people are subject to planning and environmental health regulations in the ordinary way, and the Government strongly encourage local authorities to make suitable provision on properly serviced and located sites by offering 100 per cent. reimbursement of the capital cost. In the Government's view it is only in this way that the34W difficulties associated with unauthorised encampments—including the sanitation problem to which my hon. Friend refers—can be avoided.