Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Government's consultation, Powers for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments, launched on 5 April 2018, what meetings he has had with representatives of the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities (a) prior to and (b) since launching that consultation.
My Department maintains close contact with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller stakeholder groups, and officials meet community representatives quarterly to discuss policy questions and give Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities a voice at the heart of Government.
Unauthorised developments and encampments, and the recently-launched consultation, have been discussed at these meetings, with my noble Friend, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, the Minister responsible for Gypsy and Traveller equality, in attendance. Officials have also attended other relevant events concerning the consultation, such as the one organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma in the winter of 2017.