§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications have been submitted by local authorities to designate caravan sites under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 in each of the past 10 years; how many have(a) been approved, (b) been refused and (c) are pending decision; and what is the Government's policy in respect of responsibilities upon local authorities to provide sites under the Act.
§ Mr. ChopeGovernment policy is for local authorities to make adequate site provision for gipsies residing in, or resorting to, their areas. Once the Secretary of State is satisfied that an authority has made adequate provision or that, in all the circumstances, it is not necessary or expedient to make such provision, the Secretary of State may designate that area. The following authorities have been designated in each of the past 10 years:
1981
- Camden
- Islington
- Aylesbury Vale
- Chiltern
- South Bucks
- Wandsworth
1982
- West Sussex CC
- High Peak1
- Kennet
- North Wiltshire
- Thamesdown
- West Wiltshire
- Milton Keynes
- Dartford
- South Bedfordshire
1983
- Oswestry
- Nuneaton and Bedworth
- Oldham
- Hyndburn
- Luton
- Trafford
- Ashford
- Salisbury
1984
- Gravesham
- Kingston upon Thames
- Rochdale
- South Derbyshire
- Hillingdon
- Boston
- West Lindsey
- Selby
1985
441W
- Huntingdonshire
- Wealden
- Rother
- Eastbourne
- Hastings
- Chester
- Middlesbrough1
- Northampton
- Wellingborough
- South Northamptonshire
- Epsom and Ewell
- Tonbridge and Malling1
- Babergh
- Ipswich
- Mid-Suffolk
- Suffolk Coastal
- Peterborough1
- Windsor and Maidenhead
1986
- Hartlepool
- Stockton-on-Tees1
- Chesterfield
- Bolsover
- North East Derbyshire
- Broxbourne
- Canterbury
- Ryedale
- Darlington
- Chester-le-Street
- Derwentside
- Easington
- Sedgefield
- Teesdale
- Wear Valley
- East Northamptonshire
1987
- Watford1
- Miadstone
- Lancaster
- Cherwell
- Kettering
- Northumberland
- Great Yarmouth
1988
- Mid Bedfordshire
- North Bedfordshire
- Shepway
- Gateshead
- Lewes
- Durham City
1989
- Dacorum1
- Welwyn Hatfield
- Blaby
- Oadby and Wigston1
- Runnymede1
- Doncaster1
1 Designated on the grounds that it is not necessary or expedient to make adequate provision.
The following designation applications are pending decision:
- Dover
- Vale of White Horse
- Sefton
- East Cambridgeshire
- Thanet
- Harrow
- Worcester City
- Epping Forest
- Hertsmere
- Bradford
My Department does not maintain records of unsuccessful designation applications.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many directions he has issued under section 9 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 in each of the last three years; and if he will indicate the area concerned in each case by local authority and the number of sites stated in each case.
§ Mr. ChopeThe Secretary of State has issued two directions under section 9 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968. In November 1988 he directed Hertfordshire county council to make provision for sites for 110 caravans; and in June 1989 he directed Surrey county council to make provision for sites for 190 caravans.