Letter: Romany culture wins a reprieve

Sir: The rejection by the Lords of Michael Howard's efforts to repeal the duty on local authorities to provide sites for gypsies (report, 12 July) should be welcomed by all who wish to facilitate the continuation of the lifestyle and culture of Romanies and other traditional nomadic minorities.

By itself this will do nothing to reduce the discrimination, disadvantage and vilification they suffer; but the Bill's alternative of no such provision coupled with its proposed increased criminal powers against gypsies and the maintenance of direct discrimination under the Mobile Homes Act 1983 was utterly deplorable. As the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe pointed out:

in 1993:

Respect for the rights of Gypsies, individual, fundamental and human rights and their rights as a minority, is essential to improve their situation.

It will be a small step in the right direction if the duty to provide gypsy caravan sites is not only retained, but enforced.

The restoration of the Bill to its original form would be a disaster for the British part of a culture that has given much to the whole of Europe.

Yours faithfully,

TIM JONES

Birmingham