§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give an estimate of the number of caravans owned by gypsies and other travellers on "tolerated" sites, where no planning permission has been given but the local authority does not intend to take enforcement action. [HL939]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)Local authorities carry out a biannual count of caravans occupied by "gypsies", defined in statute as "persons of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin …". At the time of the latest published count in England in July 1998, there were 317 caravans occupied by gypsies on privately owned sites without planning permission, on which local authorities have indicated that they are not currently intending to take planning enforcement action.
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give details of appeals against refusal of planning permission for gypsy sites decided in each of the years 1993 to 1998 inclusive, giving in each case the location of the site, the number of caravan pitches and the decision of the Secretary of State. [HL940]
§ Lord WhittyCopies of these details for England and Wales have been placed in the House Library. No details are available yet for December 1998. There were no appeals against refusal of planning permission for gypsy sites decided in the years 1993 to 1998 in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Except for England, this is a matter for which the Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly and the Welsh Assembly will be responsible after devolution.