Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to increase council powers to evict unauthorised traveller encampments; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is concerned about the cost and disruption that can be caused by unauthorised traveller encampments. That is why on 9 August 2013 we sent all council leaders in England updated guidance, reminding them to act swiftly and setting out the strong powers councils and landowners have to remove illegal and unauthorised sites on both public and private land.

Our planning policy for traveller sites, issued in March 2012, removed the last Administration's planning guidance (Circular 01/06) which restricted the ability of councils to initiate enforcement action. We are currently reviewing whether further improvements can be made to planning policy and guidance to assist councils in taking action against unauthorised development.

In addition, in the Localism Act 2011 we introduced provisions in England to allow for an appeal against enforcement or a retrospective planning application, not both. And in 2013, we removed a previous restriction on the use of Temporary Stop Notices that prevented local authorities in England taking enforcement action against a caravan used as a main residence.