Debates between Baroness Taylor of Stevenage and Earl Attlee during the 2024 Parliament

Gypsy and Traveller Communities: Accommodation

Debate between Baroness Taylor of Stevenage and Earl Attlee
Wednesday 6th November 2024

(3 weeks, 6 days ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Taylor of Stevenage Portrait Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)
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I thank my noble friend for that important point. Of course, it is the responsibility of local authorities to assess the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in their area, as set out in Section 124 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016. They must plan to meet that need, and it should come under the remit of the inspectorate when it is looking at local plans to ensure that that provision is made properly and in accordance with the cultural needs of Gypsies and Travellers. We will look at that closely once the new National Planning Policy Framework is in place.

Earl Attlee Portrait Earl Attlee (Con)
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My Lords, what does the planning system do to improve the education of Travellers so that they can engage in exclusively legitimate economic activity?

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage Portrait Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)
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Of course, Gypsies and Travellers have the right to education, just like every other family in this country. We make every endeavour to make sure that the opportunities that are available to all the children in this country are available to Gypsies and Travellers as well, and that we take account of their cultural needs as we do so.