Gypsies and Travellers

Baroness Whitaker Excerpts

Thursday 16th February 2012 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Whitaker]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consult on a fresh definition of Gypsies and Travellers which would entitle all persons with a cultural tradition of nomadism or of living in a caravan to Gypsy status for the purposes of planning policy and legislation.

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, the Government published their new draft planning policy for Traveller sites for full public consultation last year. The consultation included a question about whether the current definition of Gypsies and Travellers for the purposes of planning policy should be retained. The Government are currently considering all responses to the consultation on their new draft planning policy.

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Whitaker]

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his Answer as far as it goes. However, does he agree with me that the current definition forces ethnic Gypsies and Travellers who want to live in caravans according to their traditional way of life and seek planning permission for that purpose to demonstrate that they pursue a nomadic way of life, when current legislation and the lack of authorised sites makes it almost impossible for them to do so and consigns them to low-paid and erratic employment? For instance, a Gypsy who practised a profession that required living in one place—such as a doctor or an architect of my acquaintance—could not get planning permission for a caravan site on land that he had bought. Does the noble Earl agree? Secondly—

[Noble Lords]

Too long!