Travelling People

John Mann
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what legislation allows the immediate moving on of travellers trespassing on local authority land in circumstances where there is a local authority traveller site available.

Meg Munn
Sections 62A-E of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 enable the police to move on Gypsies and Travellers trespassing on any land where a suitable pitch is available on a publicly owned site in the area.

John Mann
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what action may be taken against local authorities which do not provide adequate traveller sites.

Meg Munn
Under section 15(4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, the Secretary of State may direct a local planning authority to amend its Local Development Scheme to include a Development Plan Document for the allocation of Gypsy and Traveller sites and the timetable within such a plan must be prepared.

John Mann
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which tier of authority has legal responsibility for provision of traveller sites in two tier authority areas.

Meg Munn
District and unitary councils are required to undertake accommodation needs assessments for Gypsies and Travellers in their areas, and to identify land in their Development Plan Documents to deliver the pitch numbers allocated to them by the Regional Assembly in the Regional Spatial Strategy. However, sites may be provided by any type of local authority, registered social landlords or private organisations and individuals.