HC Deb 20 January 1986 vol 90 c46W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of travellers' caravans on (a) authorised and (b) unauthorised sites in Greater London; and how this compares with similar estimates over the past five years.

Mr. Tracey

The Department collects information from a voluntary census carried out twice-yearly by London borough councils. The numbers of gypsy caravans recorded in the last five years are as follows:

Caravans
Unauthorised sites Authorised sites
January 1981 358 528
July 1981 321 450
January 1982 298 480
July 1982 292 365
January 1983 295 488
July 1983 280 514
January 1984 294 585
July 1984 300 440
January 1985* 209 407
July 1985* 277 380
* In January 1985 seven Boroughs did not make returns; in July 1985 four Boroughs did not make returns.