Written question asked by Andy Reed (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 January 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 January 1998. It was answered by Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Labour) on Thursday, 22 January 1998 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received about Circular 18/94, in relation to the Police and Criminal Justice Act 1994.

Answer: Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received about Circular 18/94, in relation to the Police and Criminal Justice Act 1994; and if he will make a statement. [23831] Ms Armstrong: Sections 77 to 79 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 give all local authorities powers to deal with unauthorised camping, and my Department's Circular no. 18/94, "Gypsy Sites Policy and Unauthorised Camping", gives advice to local authorities on the use of these powers. My Department has received a number of representations, both from local authorities and from groups representing gypsies and travellers, about the advice in Circular 18/94. We have commissioned a research project to consolidate existing good practice for local authorities in dealing with unauthorised camping, with a view to producing guidance. We will be consulting the Local Government Association and others on a draft of that guidance in the spring.

Secondary information