§ Mr. AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the outcome of his consultations with local authorities on travelling fairs;
(2) what recent representations he has received from the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain on problems associated with travelling fair grounds; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoI have received no representations from the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain about the problems associated with travelling fair grounds, nor have I consulted local authorities about travelling fairs. However, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside on 20 December, column273, about sites from which travelling showpeople base their activities. My officials have prepared some draft planning policy guidance about these sites, and invited comments from the Showmen's Guild. When we have these comments we intend to issue a revised draft for public consultation, involving the local authority associations.