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• Definition of the term 'gypsies and travellers' for the purposes of the Housing Act 2004 - Summary of Responses

Housing

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Summary

The Department for Communities and Local Government received 38 responses to its consultation paper, 'Definition of the term 'gypsies and travellers' for the purposes of the Housing Act 2004'.

Section 225 of the Housing Act 2004 (the Act) places a duty on local housing authorities to undertake regular assessments of the accommodation needs of 'gypsies and travellers' either living in, or resorting to their area, under the Local Housing Needs Assessment process set out in Section 8 of the Housing Act 1985. The Act also requires local housing authorities to include the needs of 'gypsies and travellers' in any housing strategy they produce in line with section 87 of the Local Government Act 2003 and to take any such strategy in to account in exercising their functions.

Section 225(5)(a) provides that the term 'gypsies and travellers' has the meaning given by regulations made by the appropriate national authority. In relation to England the appropriate national authority is the Secretary of State and this power is being exercised by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The Government therefore consulted on a definition of 'gypsies and travellers' which will apply when local housing authorities are carrying out accommodation assessments and preparing accommodation strategies in respect of this group.

The consultation exercise ran for 12 weeks from 2 February 2006 until 28 April 2006 although late responses were accepted after this date.

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