§ Peter BottomleyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to coordinate policy, law and collection of statistics between the administrations in the common travel area for unauthorised caravanning and encampments. [188236]
§ Keith HillStrong links already exist between the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Republic of Ireland's Department of the Environment in respect of Gypsy and Traveller policy. There have been recent official-level discussions on policy, law and data collection as part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Review of Gypsy and Traveller policy. These discussions will inform the recommendations of the Review.
Robust laws and guidance are in place in both the UK and the Republic to deal with incidents of unauthorised camping. In addition, statistical data on the nomadic Gypsy and Traveller community is collected and published twice yearly in England. and yearly in the Republic.