Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to protect the rights of Gypsies, Travellers and Roma in his Department's response to the consultation on powers for dealing with unauthorised development.

Government departments have an ongoing responsibility to meet the Public Sector Equalities Duty (PSED) under the Equality Act 2010. When formulating policy following consultation, ministers must have due regard to achieving the objectives of eliminating discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act; advancing equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not; and fostering good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

The Ministry of Justice will work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Home Office to agree policy proposals for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments.