Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of 8 March 2021, Government response to Consultation: Strengthening Police Powers to Tackle Unauthorised Encampments, HCWS826, what criteria the courts will be required to apply to determine whether the (a) damage, (b) disruption and (c) distress which a person (i) has or (ii) is deemed likely to cause is significant; and what assessment her Department has made of whether it will be feasible to provide sufficient clarity in such criteria to allow for the practical application of that proposed legislation.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government will issue guidance relating to the exercise of the functions of police officers and constables in respect of trespassers on land. It will be for the courts to determine on a case by case basis when damage, disruption and distress is deemed to be significant.
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that the protections afforded to Gypsies and Travellers under the Public Sector Equality Duty are encompassed in her response to the 2019 consultation, Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments with regard to (a) criminalising trespass and (b) seizing homes.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Government is committed to ensuring all communities are treated fairly. We are equally clear that we will not tolerate law breaking.
That is why we set out in the Queen’s Speech in December 2019 our firm aim to bring forward legislation which will help police tackle unauthorised encampments where they cause harm and disruption.
All responses to the consultation have been considered and the Government response will be published soon.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to mitigate the potential effect on Gypsies and Travellers of the Home Office proposals outlined in the consultation, Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments with regard to proposals to (a) criminalise trespass and (b) seize homes.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government remains committed to tackling unauthorised encampments. The Home Office will be publishing a full Government response to the consultation on strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments. The Home Office have considered all suggestions carefully, and will take account of the potential effect on settled and nomadic communities, before taking a decision on how to proceed.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups Moving for Change: local authority approaches to roadside camps in a time of COVID-19, published on 4 February, in particular its finding that there was a 333 per cent increase in evictions from roadside camps in the 45 days following the Government guidance issued on 10 May 2020 to "stay alert"; what steps they are taking to ensure that local authorities are protecting Gypsies, Travellers, Roma and others at risk of roadside eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic; and what discussions they intend to have with local authorities about the use of negotiated settlements in place of evictions of such groups.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government is supporting people across the country respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including those in the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
I have met with the National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups to discuss the impact of the pandemic and the Government has provided guidance to all local authority Chief Executives about the support some Gypsy and Traveller families may need during the national restrictions to find a safe place to stop and access basic amenities, including water, sanitation and waste disposal facilities.
Whilst it is for local authorities to determine how best to support vulnerable groups, in line with their public health responsibilities, the Government will continue to work closely with them to ensure that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities’ needs are met.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to publish the results of her Department's consultation, Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments before the Police Powers and Protections Bill is brought before Parliament.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
As we set out in the briefing accompanying the Queen’s Speech in December 2019, it is our firm aim to bring forward legislation this session.
The Home Office launched a public consultation in November 2019 to seek views on how we could strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments. We will publish our response to that consultation in the usual way.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the results her Department's consultation, Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
As we set out in the briefing accompanying the Queen’s Speech in December 2019, it is our firm aim to bring forward legislation this session.
The Home Office launched a public consultation in November 2019 to seek views on how we could strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments. We will publish our response to that consultation in the usual way.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments at the earliest opportunity so that local authorities do not have to fund enforcement and alternative provision projects.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
As we set out in the briefing accompanying the Queen’s Speech in December 2019, it is our firm aim to bring forward legislation this session.
The Home Office launched a public consultation in November 2019 to seek views on how we could strengthen the police’s powers to tackle unauthorised encampments. We will publish a response to that consultation in the usual way.
Asked by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the Friends, Families and Travellers 2020 report, Police renew calls for more Gypsy and Traveller sites in opposition to the criminalisation of unauthorised encampments, published 9 September 2020, that concluded (a) 21.7 per cent of police respondents agreed with the Home Office proposals to criminalise unauthorised encampments and (b) 93.7 per cent of police bodies called for site provision as the solution to unauthorised encampments.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Asked by: Andrew Selous (Conservative - South West Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether an inspector can approve a council policy allowing for traveller site development when the council has concluded that there is no unmet accommodation need in the planning period.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Inspector’s role is to examine whether a submitted plan meets the Tests of Soundness set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and legislative requirements.
The Inspector’s conclusions will be based on a consideration of all the evidence and on the application of professional expertise and judgement.
With regard to traveller sites, as part of this consideration an Inspector will consider plan proposals against policy in the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) and NPPF. The PPTS encourages authorities to identify a 5-year supply of specific, deliverable sites and other developable sites to accommodate growth for years 6-10 and, where possible, years 11-15.
Asked by: Robin Millar (Conservative - Aberconwy)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the Government response to the consultation Strengthening police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments; and what the timetable is for implementing the conclusions of that response.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
We made a clear manifesto commitment to act on the issue of unauthorised encampments and I remain determined to ensure police have the powers they need.
I intend to publish our response to the consultation and to bring forward legislation later this session.