Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Traveller Communities: Planning Policy

Monday 16 November 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government has proposed measures related to Traveller site provision and strengthening planning enforcement powers.
  • Government is reviewing planning policy as part of reforms to the wider planning system.
  • Government aims to ensure fair and equal treatment for Travellers and their children.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Selous Con
Housing Local Government
Context

Traveller communities face challenges in finding suitable sites and dealing with unauthorised encampments. There is a need to improve planning policies to address these issues.

Question

What steps he is taking to improve planning policy for Traveller communities. The issue of unauthorised development and encampments has led to difficulties for both Travellers and settled residents, necessitating changes in planning policy to better accommodate the needs of Traveller communities while addressing local concerns.

Answer from Christopher Pincher

The Government has proposed measures related to Traveller site provision and strengthening planning enforcement powers as part of a consultation on dealing with unauthorised development and encampments. Further changes to planning policy will be considered as part of the reforms to the wider planning system outlined in the White Paper, “Planning for the Future”.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps being taken to improve planning policies were not detailed.

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Q2 Andrew Selous Con
Community Security Children & Families
Context

In certain areas, there is a dual issue of settled residents moving away due to fear and Traveller children experiencing some of the worst outcomes among all groups. There is a need for reassurance that the ongoing review will address these issues effectively.

Question

In parts of the country, we have the double disaster of settled residents moving away in fear and Traveller children having the worst outcomes of any group of children. Can the Minister reassure me that the review that his Department is undertaking will put an end to the unacceptable situation in which both those groups find themselves?

Answer from Christopher Pincher

My hon. Friend has campaigned long and hard on these issues, as have several others in the House. The Government's overarching aim is to ensure fair and equal treatment for Travellers and their children, but we must not be blind to the rights of the settled community as well. Local authorities have a wide range of powers at their disposal, including the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. I will happily consider his and other proposals as we work through the contributions to the White Paper consultation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps or timeline for addressing the unacceptable situation faced by both Traveller communities and settled residents was not detailed.

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