Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2021 to Question 16972 on Travellers: Caravan Sites, if he will publish the programme that the Planning Advisory Service used for its recent series of events it provided for local authorities to enhance their understanding of planning for Gypsies, Roma and Traveller communities to support the future site provision for those communities; and how many local authorities took part in those events.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Details of the main topics covered in recent events held by the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) to support authorities in planning for gypsies and travellers are published on the PAS website (under past events). Any further details can be obtained by contacting PAS directly.
A total of 102 local authorities registered to attend one or more of the six events that were held.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to reintroduce pitch targets and statutory duties for local authorities to meet the assessed needs for sites for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Government encourages local planning authorities to make their own assessment of need for traveller sites, and in producing their local plan to identify sites to meet that need. This includes setting pitch targets for gypsies and travellers and plot targets for travelling showpeople. These plans are robustly tested by an independently appointed Inspector before they can be adopted by the authority.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support the Government is giving to local authorities to provide permanent and temporary sites for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government encourages local planning authorities to make their own assessment of need for traveller sites and in producing their local plan, to identify sites to meet that need
Local authorities and Registered Providers (like housing associations) can bid for funding through our £11.5 billion 2021-2026 Affordable Homes Programme. They can use this funding for permanent traveller sites, along with other forms of affordable housing
On behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) recently held a series of events for local authorities to enhance their understanding of planning for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers to support future site provision.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what standards his Department sets for authorised permanent sites and traveller sites for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community; and what level of inspection is carried out to ensure that local authorities' provision of sites meets those standards.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We encourage local planning authorities to make their own assessment of need for traveller sites and in producing their local plan, to identify sites to meet that need. Local authorities are best placed to make decisions about the number and location of such sites locally, having had due regard to national policy and local circumstances.
Privately run Gypsy and Traveller sites with appropriate planning permission are subject to the local authority site licencing regime under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. Local authorities have discretion to attach conditions to a licence and can issue a compliance notice for a breach of a condition.
Local authorities are responsible for repairs and maintenance of permanent Gypsy and Traveller sites they own, under the Mobile Homes Act 1983. Local authorities set out these responsibilities in individual Mobile Homes pitch agreements.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that local authorities are providing a sufficient quantity of traveller pitches to meet the needs of the Gypsy, Roman and Traveller community.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We encourage local planning authorities to make their own assessment of need for traveller sites and in producing their local plan, to identify sites to meet that need. Local authorities are best placed to make decisions about the number and location of such sites locally, having had due regard to national policy and local circumstances.
Privately run Gypsy and Traveller sites with appropriate planning permission are subject to the local authority site licencing regime under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. Local authorities have discretion to attach conditions to a licence and can issue a compliance notice for a breach of a condition.
Local authorities are responsible for repairs and maintenance of permanent Gypsy and Traveller sites they own, under the Mobile Homes Act 1983. Local authorities set out these responsibilities in individual Mobile Homes pitch agreements.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the level of unmet demand for authorised traveller sites across the UK.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We encourage local planning authorities to make their own assessment of need for traveller sites and in producing their local plan, to identify sites to meet that need. Local authorities are best placed to make decisions about the number and location of such sites locally, having had due regard to national policy and local circumstances.
Privately run Gypsy and Traveller sites with appropriate planning permission are subject to the local authority site licencing regime under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. Local authorities have discretion to attach conditions to a licence and can issue a compliance notice for a breach of a condition.
Local authorities are responsible for repairs and maintenance of permanent Gypsy and Traveller sites they own, under the Mobile Homes Act 1983. Local authorities set out these responsibilities in individual Mobile Homes pitch agreements.
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 research by Katharine Quarmby 'Systemic Racism within a Rigged System', published in Byline Times on 24 May, on the risks to health and wellbeing on 242 authorised Gypsy and traveller sites; and what steps they will take in response.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) which was published alongside the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework) in 2012 recognises the differing needs and land use of travelling communities and encourages improved site provision.
The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites sets out that authorities should ensure that traveller sites are sustainable economically, socially and environmentally ensuring that (amongst other matters) policies provide for proper consideration of the effect of local environmental quality (such as noise and air quality) on the health and well-being of travellers that may locate there.
The Government remains firmly committed to delivering a cross-government strategy to tackle the inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential detrimental effects of policing by consent on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities parked on unauthorised sites.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government’s overarching aim is to ensure fair and equal treatment for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, in a way that facilitates their traditional and nomadic way of life. We are equally clear that we will not tolerate law breaking and we are determined to ensure police have the powers they need to support and serve their communities.
We expect police to continue to undertake enforcement action in compliance with their equality and human rights obligations.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he (a) has had and (b) plans to have with stakeholders on the (i) adequacy and (ii) sufficiency of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller sites (A) nationally and (B) in York.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
During the formal consultation period for the Government’s Planning for the Future White Paper, my department held a series of roundtable discussions with national stakeholders which included local authorities and Gypsy and Traveller support groups. We are progressing wide ranging reform of the planning system, which includes consideration of how to plan for the traveller communities.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with representatives of local authorities on (a) making sufficient provision for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and (b) increasing the number of sites for those communities in their local authority areas.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
During the formal consultation period for the Government’s Planning for the Future White Paper, my department held a series of roundtable discussions with national stakeholders which included local authorities and Gypsy and Traveller support groups. We are progressing wide ranging reform of the planning system, which includes consideration of how to plan for the traveller communities.