§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions he has exercised his powers under section 9 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968, since it came into force in April 1970, to direct any local authority to provide 348W additional sites for gipsies; on how many occasions he has had cause to threaten to do so; and if, in each case, he will name the authority, the date on which he exercised these powers and whether his direction was complied with.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsI have exercised these powers once. On 11 April 1986 I made directions requiring West Glamorgan county council to provide so many sites as will provide accommodation for 60 caravans for gipsies. The county council is taking action on the directions but has not yet complied with them. Clwyd county council were advised on 7 July 1986 that I am minded to issue a direction requiring them to provide sides for an additional 30 caravans.
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state how many gipsies are estimated to be resorting to or residing in each of the counties in Wales; and when these estimates were made.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsAt the January 1986 count of caravans conducted by district councils in Wales the number of gipsy caravans recorded in each county was as follows:—
County Number of caravans Clwyd 14 Dyfed 209 Gwent 56 Gwynedd 25 Mid Glamorgan 75 Powys 28 South Glamorgan 105 West Glamorgan 87 Information about the number of people living in these caravans is not available.
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales which local authority areas in Wales are designated under the Caravan Sites Act 1968.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsNone.
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many separate caravan sites have been provided in each of the counties in Wales; and what is the number of caravan pitches accommodated on those sites.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsTwelve caravan sites have been provided by local authorities in Wales. The number in each county and the pitches accommodated on them are given in the following table:
County Number of Sites Number of Pitches Clwyd Nil Nil Dyfed 6 80 Gwent 2 36 Gwynedd 1 34 Mid Glamorgan 1 24 Powys 1 10 South Glamorgan 2 59 West Glamorgan Nil Nil
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the provision of caravan pitches by each of the counties in Wales meets the requirements of the Caravan Sites Act, stating which counties do and which do not meet such requirements.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsI may, on the application of a county council, and if I am satisfied that adequate 349W provision is made in their area for the accommodation of gipsies residing in or restoring to that area, designate the area under section 12 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968. No such designation has been made in Wales.
Number of Candidates* 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 'A' level Welsh (First Language) 252 265 257 269 263 255 'A' level Welsh (Second Language) 260 315 293 314 311 284 * Including external candidates.