§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount provided by his 15W Department for the construction of gipsy sites in Devon in each year since 1993; and how much will be provided in (a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesMy Department has neither made nor will make any payment of gipsy site grant for sites in Devon in the financial years 1993–94 to 1996–97, because no local authority application for grant for sites in that area has received or is awaiting approval to proceed to tender.
§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will allow Devon county council to use the grant from his Department, originally designated for a gipsy site at Tamerton Foliot, for an alternative gipsy site; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesThe application from Devon county council for gipsy site grant for a site at Tamerton Foliot was rejected by my Department on the ground of excessive cost. No grant has therefore been allocated for that site. Section 80 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which came into force on 3 November 1994, repealed the Secretary of State's power to approve grant other than for applications received before commencement date.