“Stark and shocking” inequality faced by Gypsies, Roma and Travellers – Lords committee

The House of Lords Public Services Committee heard “stark and shocking” evidence from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) representatives about access to public services earlier this year.

Now ministers have been challenged over what the government is doing to address inequalities faced by “struggling” GRT communities.

In a letter to Michael Gove, the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary, the committee asks why the government and councils have failed to provide sufficient authorised sites for Gypsies and Travellers, including permanent sites and negotiated stopping sites.

Around 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers in England currently live at the roadside due to of a shortage of stopping sites, with many struggling to access basic amenities.

The committee has also written to Professor Sir Chris Whitty, the government’s Chief Medical Officer, about life expectancy of GRT people - said to be 10-25 years less than the general population. The committee wants the government to “address vast disparities in life expectancy among GRT communities urgently.”

The committee has also asked what more the government and councils can do to tackle a range of issues including:

• Ensuring that authorised sites have sufficient digital provision to enable people to use online public services;
• Ensuring that providers are supported to tailor the delivery of public services to the needs of GRT communities
  
  

Baroness Armstrong, Chair of the Public Services Committee, said:

“It is unclear what the government is doing to address the inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Its ‘levelling up’ plan mentions the Romans three times but there’s not a word about Roma or Romany people or Travellers.

“Appropriate provision of sites is the first step in addressing unequal access to and experience of public services such as health and education.

“The causes of the appalling and unacceptable disparity in life expectancy among GRT communities should be addressed urgently.

“Education is central to social inclusion and wellbeing, but GRT children historically have been left behind. The barriers they face, including discrimination and bullying at school and a lack of suitable job opportunities afterwards, should cause the government deep concern.”