Members of the Young Roots Group present their work to the Committee

BACKGROUND

June 2001

The Committee published the report of its Inquiry into Gypsy Travellers and Public Sector Policies.

October 2001

The Scottish Executive published its initial response to the report.

September 2003

The Committee agreed to hold a taking stock exercise on the progress of the Executive in responding to the Committee’s recommendations.

June 2004

The Executive published an updated response - Delivering for Scotland’s Gypsies/Travellers.

September 2004

The Committee agreed to carry out further investigation into what had been achieved and what impact, if any, there had been on the lives of Scotland’s Gypsies/Travellers.

APPROACH

The Committee agreed its approach at its meeting on 15 October 2004.

Written Evidence

• The Committee issued targeted calls for evidence with a deadline of end of January 2005

Oral Evidence

• The Committee took oral evidence from a range of stakeholders.
  • Official Report of meeting on 12 April 2005
  • Official Report of meeting on 24 May 2005
  • Official Report of meeting on 7 June 2005
  • Official Report of meeting on 21 June 2005
  • Official Report of meeting on 28 June 2005

Report

• The Committee published a preliminary report of its findings on 7 October 2005.

Delay in publication of the Scottish Executive National Strategy and Action Plan for Race Equality

Due to the Minister for Communities' decision to postpone publication of the National Strategy and Action Plan on Race Equality, including the Scottish Executive’s plans for action in relation to Gypsy/Travellers, until the next parliamentary session, the Committee was unable to publish a final report on its review of progress on Gypsy/Travellers before dissolution.

At its meeting on 20 February, the Committee agreed to include a strong recommendation in its legacy paper that its successor committee take forward the current committee's work on Gypsy/Travellers - A Review of Progress.

The following links will take you to the Committee's reports and the Executive's updated response (2004):

• Inquiry into Gypsy Travellers and Public Sector Policies
• Delivering for Scotland 's Gypsies/Travellers. An Updated Response to the Equal Opportunities Committee Inquiry Into Gypsy Travellers And Public Services 2001
• Equal Opportunities Committee, 5th Report 2005: Preliminary Findings on Gypsy/Travellers - Review of Progress