Examination of Witnesses (Questions 380
- 384)
UESDAY 13 JULY 2004
RT HON
KEITH HILL
MP, MS DAWN
EASTMEAD AND
MR JOHN
STAMBOLLOUIAN
Q380 Chairman: Six months from 27
May. Is that right?
Ms Eastmead: Yes, that is correct.
Q381 Chairman: What about employers,
particularly the Government or government contracts? In Greater
Manchester at the moment there is a lot of widening work going
on on the M60 and it appears that a fair number of Travellers
are doing the work on that site. It appears that the employer
or the Government has no duty to provide sites for the Travellers
who are working on that site so they just end up on any neighbouring
local authority's land. Would it not be reasonable, where contracts
have been let by the Government and perhaps other big construction
companies, to make sure that they have a duty to provide suitable
caravan sites for people who might be doing the work?
Keith Hill: I am disinclined to
go down that path, Mr Chairman. It does seem to me that if you
say you are going to do this for the Gypsy and Traveller employees
then it does raise the question why are you not doing it for anybody
else who happens to come in—as I am sure is often the case—from
outside to construction projects.
Q382 Chairman: In the past big construction
projects almost always made temporary sites available for people
who were coming in to do construction work. It appears that that
practice has disappeared perhaps to save money.
Keith Hill: That may well be the
case, but I cannot say that this one is an issue that has been
put to us with any urgency. This would be a matter for the Highways
Agency of course and it might well be worth your while putting
that particular question to them. And the best of luck, if I might
say so!
Q383 Chairman: I thought you had
sorted them out in your previous role! Trading Standards: it is
alleged that some Gypsies do a fair amount of work on paths and
tree-cutting and things like that, some of which is not up to
standard. Are you happy that Trading Standards pursue bad workmanship
among Traveller communities?
Keith Hill: I am very conscious
of the issue of courage in these exchanges, but I have to say
somewhat feebly that that really is not the responsibility of
the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; it is, I would imagine,
a matter for DTI.
Q384 Chairman: On that note can I
thank you very much for your attendance.
Keith Hill: It has been my usual
pleasure.
| 
