§ Sir Michael SpicerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many schemes for permanent gipsy sites agreed under the former gipsy site policy he is currently obliged to finance; and if the financial arrangements apply only to agreements made under the former policy. [7782]
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesThere remains 88 schemes for permanent gipsy sites which were submitted by local authorities before the power to pay gipsy sites grant—section 70 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980—was repealed on 3 November 1994. Of those, 83 have received formal grant approval from the Secretary of State; the remaining five have yet to be determined. The power to pay grant applies only to applications submitted in accordance with departmental guidance issued to local authorities under the 1980 Act.