§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about redefining the term gipsy as used in the Caravan Sites Act 1968; and what decisions he has reached on those representations.
§ Mr. Chope[holding answer 11 December 1989]: Over the past year I have received representations from two local authorities, the County Landowners Association and a travellers' education project. At this stage, I have no proposals to introduce legislation to change the definition in the Act.
§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider excluding New Age Travellers from alleged gipsy counts when considering applications by a local authority for designation status under the 1968 Act, as is practised in Wiltshire.
§ Mr. Chope[holding answer 11 December 1989]: Questions of definitions under the Act are for local councils to decide. My role is to assess whether an authority has satisfied its duty to provide gipsy sites before I grant designation.