Parliamentary Questions - Written Replies

RAVE CURBS: Tough curbs to tackle 'the terrible damage and disruption caused by New Age Travellers and ravers' were announced by Earl Ferrers, Home Office minister. The measures include giving police power to break up convoys of six vehicles; allowing them to turn back anyone they believe is going to a rave site within a radius of five miles; and giving them the power to seize amplification equipment and vehicles. Legislation is unlikely to be in place before the summer.

NEGATIVE EQUITY: About 1,030,000 householders are facing negative equity, with mortgage debts higher than the value of their homes. There are 930,000 cases in the South of England, according to figures released by the Treasury.