§ Ms WardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend legislation relating to travellers; and if he will make a statement. [44604]
§ Mr. RaynsfordMy Department has no plans to amend sections 77 to 80 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 which give local authorities powers to deal with unauthorised camping, and which repealed local authorities' duty to provide sites and the Secretary of State's power to pay grant for such sites.
My Department is committed to issuing good practice advice to local authorities on unauthorised camping, and it is proposed to launch this on 29 October at a conference organised by the National Association of Gipsy and Traveller Officers in Coventry.