SIMPLE SOLUTIONS FOR LIVING TOGETHER REPORT ON GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITE PROVISION

That this House welcomes the Gypsies and Travellers: Simple Solutions for Living Together report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission; recognises that investment in adequate site provision can generate income for local authorities and significantly reduce eviction costs, improve community relations and provide safe and decent accommodation for Gypsy and Traveller communities; notes that as little as one square mile of land across all of England would be enough to provide all Gypsy and Traveller families with sufficient authorised sites; further notes that local authorities need to double their rate of progress in order to meet the Government's 2011 target to provide sufficient accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers; and calls on the Government to encourage local authorities to work with Gypsies and Travellers and local residents to find fair and sensible ways to deliver the modest number of authorised sites required for Gypsies and Travellers.