GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITE PROVISION

That this House notes that the Local Government Association (LGA) Gypsy and Traveller Task Group report has called for a clear and tight timetable with agreed milestones for the implementation of the new planning circular on Gypsy and Traveller sites in the first round of the regional spatial strategies and local development frameworks; further notes that the LGA calls for the Government to extend funding for the Gypsy sites refurbishment grant beyond 2008 and the money available for regional housing boards for site provision; welcomes these recommendations and the growing cross-party consensus on this issue; and urges the Government fully to support these recommendations.