Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report, Pressing for Progress, published by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission in July 2018, when he plans to respond to the recommendations to (a) replace the current planning definition of Gypsies and Travellers with the more inclusive definition in the Housing Act 2004, and (b) reintroduce the duty on local authorities to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers under the Caravan Sites Act 1968.

The Government response to the recent consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework confirmed that we are considering whether any changes may be required to the planning policy for traveller sites, as a result of the changes in the revised Framework. In addition, the Government is also reviewing responses to the consultation on Powers for dealing with Unauthorised Development and Encampments, which closed on 15 June. This consultation asked whether there are any specific barriers to the provision of more authorised permanent and transit sites and, if so, whether there is any action that the Government could take to help overcome those barriers. We will provide a formal response to this consultation, as well as confirming whether any changes are required to the planning policy for traveller sites, in due course.