David Ruffley today delivered his speech in the House of Commons on the Woolpit/Elmswell traveller issue. This was a special Adjournment Debate that the Speaker, Michael Martin, granted David after his intervention in August calling for this emergency debate.

This is a link to the speech

There was a large amount of cross party agreement, particularly from Labour's Bill Olner from Nuneaton.

David said: 'I am delighted that the Minister responded in such a constructive and helpful way. This was a very rational, calm and civilised debate. All the speakers in the debate wanted more movement from the Government on changes to the planning law. Ministers had been promising this since the end of 2002 and in today's debate I called for them to publish their new proposals without further delay. The Minister said that he was aware of the growing problem of travellers developing land without planning permission and that following pressure from Members of Parliament like myself the Government would be bringing forward new policies by the end of this autumn. I am pleased I extracted this commitment from the Minister in today's debate.

My principal positive suggestion was that Government and councils should decide where authorised properly planned out sites should be set up with decent facilities for travellers. This should reduce the need for travellers to set up encampments without any consultation with local people in green field sites which are in breach of normal planning controls.

My campaign for a planning policy that treats everyone fairly will continue. If it succeeds there should be no need for travellers to try and get round the system as they appear to be doing in Woolpit and Elmswell at the moment.'