Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Goldsmiths, University of London, Recognise, Report, Resolve, published in June, about racist hate speech and other abusive incidents targeted at the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government is clear that all forms of hate crime and discrimination are unacceptable. We support efforts to improve hate crime reporting, and in December 2017 we awarded a grant of £55,000 to Herts GATE (Gypsy and Traveller Empowerment), an organisation that works to encourage reporting of hate crime in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and has set up Report Racism GRT, a third-party hate crime reporting website.
The report Recognise Report Resolve draws on material submitted to the Report Racism GRT website, and has been produced independently by Herts GATE and Goldsmiths, University of London.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the publication of the End of Mission Statement of the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance at the Conclusion of Her Mission to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in May, what assessment they have made of the lack of teachers from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities, the over-representation of GRT children in secure training centres, and the lack of data on the experience of GRT persons in the criminal justice system.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government is concerned about the inequalities experienced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, particularly in health and education. The Race Disparity Audit identified that Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities are amongst the most disadvantaged groups in British society and we are committed to do more to make sure nobody in this country is excluded or left behind.
The United Kingdom has a close working relationship with United Nations bodies and a standing invitation to all Special Rapporteurs, and is committed to upholding the rule of law and the rules-based international system. The Government welcomed the Special Rapporteur’s visit, and will provide further information to the Special Rapporteur as necessary. We will respond to the Special Rapporteur’s country visit findings, conclusions and recommendations when these are presented to the Human Rights Council.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to amend the reference to “travellers” in paragraph 62 of the draft National Planning Policy Framework, published on 5 March, to clarify whether the reference is to Irish Travellers.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The reference to “travellers” in paragraph 62 of the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is to ensure that those persons who are not covered under the definition in Annex 1 of the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) are covered by the NPPF, as clarified by the Written Ministerial Statement of 22 July 2015. The definition in the PPTS confirms that for the purposes of this planning policy, “gypsies and travellers” means persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, and that “travellers” includes “gypsies and travellers”. As part of the consultation on the draft NPPF, the Government has asked for comments on the text of Chapter 5, including paragraph 62. We welcome views on this issue in response to the consultation.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen on 8 March (HL Deb, col GC116), whether they will employ a standardised methodology for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation so that there is a transparent understanding of where the need for housing is most acute.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
As part of the consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework, the Government has asked for views on Chapter 5 - Delivering a wide choice of high quality homes. Paragraphs 61 and 62 of the consultation draft state that strategic plans should be based upon a local housing need assessment, conducted using the standard method in national planning guidance – and within this context, policies should identify the size, type and tenure of homes required for different groups in the community, including travellers. It also asks at question 41 whether any changes should be made to the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites as a result of the proposed changes to the Framework, and if so, what changes should be made. We welcome views on this issue in response to the consultation.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination that the UK should “develop a comprehensive strategy, in consultation with members of Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities” to improve outcomes in housing and employment.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government is concerned about the inequalities experienced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. The Race Disparity Audit has shown us these groups are amongst the most disadvantaged in British society. We are committed to do more to ensure nobody is excluded or left behind. The UK Government supports efforts at international level to further the integration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, including through the United Nations International Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (UN ICERD), on which the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government leads.
The Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper, published in March, invites views on the Government’s vision for building strong integrated communities where people – whatever their background – live, work, learn and socialise together, based on shared rights, responsibilities and opportunities. We encourage all groups, including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, to engage with the Green Paper.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what mechanisms will be in place after Brexit to take the place of the EU Roma Integration Strategy to improve the life outcomes of Gypsies, Travellers and Roma.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
As the Prime Minister has said, to leave the EU does not mark an ending. It marks a new beginning for the UK and our relationship with our European allies. We will continue to advance Roma integration within broader social inclusion and integration policies, and champion race equality at international level in a wide range of settings, collaborating with the Council of Europe and the United Nations. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also published an Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper.
This invites views on the Government’s vision for building strong integrated communities where people – whatever their background – live, work, learn and socialise together, based on shared rights, responsibilities and opportunities. We encourage all groups, including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, to engage with the Green Paper.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for Homes England to take account of the importance of high standards of design quality when making its decisions.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government is committed to raising design quality through policy and programmes. The forthcoming Design Conference scheduled for April 2018 will provide an opportunity to bring together all key Government departments, Government agencies, local government and architects to showcase how well designed housing can be delivered.
Homes England will have a key role in delivering this agenda through their programmes, including in the Garden Town and Villages programme.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the revised National Planning Policy Framework, placing a stronger emphasis on design quality; whether copies of the Framework will be placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament; and what plans they have for the revised text to give account to the importance of place-making.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The draft revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will be published for consultation in early 2018. After the consultation period has closed, we will review the responses and publish a final revised version of the NPPF. Copies of the final published NPPF will be available in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.
The Government is committed to ensuring the planning system supports the delivery of more homes where they are needed, and that these homes are well designed and high quality. The revised NPPF will reflect the proposals in last February's White Paper, 'Fixing our Broken Housing Market', to improve the quality of design.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have published a job description for the Built Environment Adviser that they are in the process of appointing; and how many people will be employed in the team of the Adviser.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The job description was published and we have recently appointed to this post. The person will initially lead a team of 4 reporting to the Chief Planner. They will be supported by the Design Steering Group, which includes a wider network of officials who are responsible for delivering high quality design outcomes in their areas of work. The person is an architect from private practice with a research background and has experience of projects in the public sector.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what specific responsibilities have been given to the civil servant, formerly employed by Design Council CABE, who has been appointed to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in order to assist the Chief Planner in improving design and place quality.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Civil Servant referred to has specific responsibility for design and other national planning policy, in relation to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
He is a town planner with over 10 years experience at national level and is also working on housing and place based deals across the country. He also sits on the Design Steering Group, overseeing the Department's Design Action Plan.