Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to sections 103 and 104 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of creating a (a) duty to meet assessed needs and (b) failure to comply requirement on local authorities.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
National planning policy is already clear that local planning authorities should use a robust evidence base to establish the accommodation needs of travellers; set pitch targets for gypsies and travellers; and identify a supply of specific, deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years' worth of sites against these targets. This includes setting clear policy consequences for local planning authorities that cannot demonstrate an up to date five-year supply of sites.
The government is currently consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), including proposals relating to traveller sites. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps with the Financial Conduct Authority to help ensure that (a) Gypsies and (b) Travellers are able to access homes and contents insurance.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out in the answer to question 75505 on 11 September 2025, the Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly, and insurers must comply with all relevant regulations and legislation. This includes the Equality Act 2010 which generally prohibits discrimination based on certain protected characteristics, including race.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator of financial services firms, requires firms to treat customers fairly under its rules. This includes ensuring that firms meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
The FCA operates independently within the statutory framework agreed by Parliament and has robust powers to take action where necessary.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that Gypsies and Travellers are able to access homes and contents insurance without discrimination.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Insurers make commercial decisions about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the relevant risks. This is usually informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. The government does not usually intervene in these decisions.
However, the government is determined that insurers treat customers fairly and insurers must comply with all relevant regulations and legislation. This includes the Equality Act 2010 which generally prohibits discrimination based on certain protected characteristics, including race.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator of financial services firms, requires firms to treat customers fairly under its rules. This includes ensuring that firms meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010. The FCA actively monitors firms and has robust powers to take action if firms do not comply with its rules.
Individual insurers may take a different view of the relevant factors in determining whether they will offer insurance and at what price. Consumers may wish to contact the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, who can offer guidance on how to look across the insurance market for the best deals and may be able to provide names of specialist brokers.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how Awaab's Law will provide equal protection to Gypsies and Travellers living permanently in caravans on sites with amenity blocks that are rented from social landlords.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have introduced regulations to bring the first phase of Awaab's Law into effect in the social rented sector. Awaab's Law will protect tenants with relevant social housing leases by imposing obligations on the landlord to address dangerous damp and mould and emergency hazards quickly.
As caravans are not buildings according to the definitions set out in the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 or the Housing Act 2004, it is the government’s position that Awaab’s Law will not extend to Gypsies and Travellers living permanently in caravans on sites with amenity blocks that are rented from social landlords.
We expect local councils to ensure amenity blocks provided on local authority managed GRT sites are safe and healthy. We will continue to engage with Parliamentarians and stakeholders on the issues affecting those in non-traditional tenures.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether (a) authorised and (b) unauthorised traveller pitches count towards housing targets.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, which can be found on Gov.uk here, sets out that local planning authorities should produce their own assessment of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation need and plan to meet this need through their Local Plan. This includes setting pitch targets for Gypsies and Travellers and plot targets for travelling showpeople, which address the likely permanent and transit site accommodation needs of Travellers in their area.
Gypsy and Traveller pitches are part of the overall calculation and information submitted for the purpose of the Housing Delivery test. Non-permanent dwellings are included only if they are the resident’s main residence and council tax is paid on them.
Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use to tackle all types of unauthorised development.
Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to give additional powers to local authorities to tackle unauthorised traveller (a) development and (b) encampments.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, which can be found on Gov.uk here, sets out that local planning authorities should produce their own assessment of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation need and plan to meet this need through their Local Plan. This includes setting pitch targets for Gypsies and Travellers and plot targets for travelling showpeople, which address the likely permanent and transit site accommodation needs of Travellers in their area.
Gypsy and Traveller pitches are part of the overall calculation and information submitted for the purpose of the Housing Delivery test. Non-permanent dwellings are included only if they are the resident’s main residence and council tax is paid on them.
Local planning authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance, which they can use to tackle all types of unauthorised development.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 4 November (HL1791), what plans they have to separate the categories of "Gypsy" and "Irish Traveller" in statistics in Government departments; and whether they plan to modify the Census to reflect this.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
The Baroness Whitaker
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
27 November 2024
Dear Baroness Whitaker,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 4 November (HL1791), what plans we have to separate the categories of "Gypsy" and "Irish Traveller" in statistics in Government departments; and whether we plan to modify the Census to reflect this (HL2732).
1. What plans we have to separate the categories of “Gypsy” and “Irish Traveller” in statistics in Government departments:
A category for ‘Gypsy or Irish Traveller’ was added to the Census ethnic group question for the first time in 2011. Space constraints on the census questionnaire meant that separate categories for each group could not be included in the 2011 Census. Consultations with users of Census data revealed that although some users would prefer separate tick boxes, the majority of users of Census information considered the combined tick-box to be satisfactory. Other categories in the question also cover several ethnic groups, for example ‘African’ and ‘Indian’. Given the space constraints of the census questionnaire, the ethnic group question has always required a selection of categories that are few enough to be practical yet detailed enough to be useful for measuring real world racial inequalities.
The Census 2011 ethnicity questions were adjusted so they could be used in the 2021 censuses for England and Wales, and Northern Ireland; and the 2022 Census for Scotland. As part of this adjustment a Roma category was added in 2021. There was strong evidence of a different user need for population data on the Roma population when compared with data on the Gypsy or Irish Traveller population.
The ethnicity harmonised standard[1] we currently recommend to producers of official statistics is based on the 2011 Census questions across the UK. Development of this ethnicity standard is one of the priority topic areas for the Government Statistical Service (GSS) Harmonisation team. The broad aim of our ethnicity harmonisation workplan[2] is to improve the inclusivity of the question for minority ethnic groups. This will involve testing possible improvements and changes to the question design and response categories. To date we have undertaken a range of research including desk research, engagement with people who use or collect ethnicity survey and administrative data, and engagement with the public. We have published two reports exploring user needs for a new standard, in March 2023[3] and July 2023[4]. We are also gathering information to understand how ethnicity response options are used by participants, including reviewing data from the ‘write in’ responses collected across a range of data sources, and requests received for new proposed ethnic group response categories for Census 2021[5].
Qualitative research into the lived experiences of Gypsies and Travellers in England and Wales, published in 2022[6], highlighted the circumstances and needs of Gypsies and Travellers relating to a range of different areas including health, education, employment and accommodation. The findings provided insights into the culture and identity of Gypsies and Travellers, and how these are changing over time, including decision-making processes for individuals disclosing their ethnicity, for example to employers or service providers, and anticipated and experienced discrimination linked to this.
Our work to update the ethnicity harmonised standard will bring together information from all these sources to evaluate possible improvements and changes to the question design. This work will include further engagement with the public, community groups, people involved in collecting and publishing administrative data, civil society organisations and other interested parties both within and outside government.
2. Whether we plan to modify the Census to reflect this:
Decisions regarding the future of population and migration statistics, including the census, will be taken by the Government over the next two years with advice from the UK Statistics Authority. As such, it is too early to comment on specific approaches as part of a potential future census. The Future Population and Migration Statistics programme has an ongoing programme of user needs engagement and carried out a consultation in 2023, which acknowledged the importance of collecting data on a variety of topics, including ethnicity.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[1]Ethnicity harmonised standard – Government Analysis Function
[2]Government Statistical Service (GSS) Harmonisation Team workplan 2024 – Government Analysis Function
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in updating the NHS Data ethnicity categories in line with the 2021 Census categories, to include Gypsies, Travellers and Roma.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has continued to work at a national level on behalf of the Department, as part of a wider equality monitoring review programme, to explore options for how best to update equality monitoring arrangements by reference to the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010. This review for the National Health Service includes consideration of equality monitoring in relation to ethnicity and consideration of the 2021 ethnic group census categories, which includes gypsy, Irish traveller, and Roma. Once the report recommendations are made to the Department, ministers will review and consider next steps.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken, if any, to implement the Recommendations on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Social and Economic Life published by the High Commissioner on National Minorities in October 2023, to ensure the representation of minorities including Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in the curriculum, teaching materials and teacher training.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Every child, regardless of their background or family circumstances, deserves the opportunity to progress and succeed in school and beyond. There is no place for hate or prejudice in our education system.
Under the Equality Act 2010, schools must not discriminate against a pupil in a number of respects because of a characteristic protected by the Act.
The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies, including maintained schools and academies, to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and other conduct prohibited by the Act; advance equality of opportunity for people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it; and foster good relations across all characteristics.
The department has published guidance for schools on how to comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010, which is attached and can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools.
The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The Curriculum and Assessment Review will seek to deliver a curriculum that reflects the issues and diversities of our society, ensuring all children and young people benefit from a curriculum that represents them and their families. When the reforms coming out of the review are implemented, the department intends that all schools will be required to teach the core National Curriculum.
The review group has recently launched a call for evidence, setting out a number of key questions and themes where it would particularly welcome evidence and input.
The department respects the autonomy of schools and teachers in terms of what resources they choose to use or recommend to their individual pupils, based on individual need in their own educational context and circumstances.
School Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses must be designed so that trainee teachers can demonstrate that they meet all of the Teachers’ Standards at the end of their course.
Part Two of the Teachers’ Standards covers personal and professional conduct and specifically includes "not undermining fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs".
The Equality Act 2010 requires accredited ITT providers to ensure that they are not discriminating against applicants on the basis of any protected characteristics.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government by what mechanism their proposed planning and infrastructure bill will ensure the provision of new local-authority-owned Gypsy and Traveller sites.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Requirements relating to planning for traveller sites are set out in the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, revised in 2023. This asks local planning authorities to produce their own assessment of needs for traveller sites in their area and use this evidence to set pitch targets in the Local Plan for Gypsies and Travellers and plot targets for travelling show people. In producing the Local Plan for their area, local planning authorities should identify and update annually a supply of deliverable sites to provide 5 years’ worth of sites against local targets.
Work is underway on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. More information on what the bill will do is provided here in published (attached) background briefing: FINAL - 17/07/24 King's Speech 2024 background briefing final GOV.uk.docx (publishing.service.gov.uk)