Image source, bbc

Michelle Lloyd from MECOPP says the evidence she will give is based on daily working with Gypsy Travellers.

Ms Lloyd says there is a need for strrong leadership at a national level, as if left to local authorities there will be no change.

She says there are no new sites being built for Gypsy/Travellers.

Ms Lloyd points to the inequalities in health and education, yet there are still no targeted campaigns.

She calls for improved engagement with Gypsy/Travellers.

The Equal Opportunity Committee’s report on Where Gypsy/Travellers Live, external, began with the following statement:

“We are extremely frustrated to have heard repeatedly that the settled community, local authorities and service providers tend towards making negative assumptions about Gypsy/Travellers' needs.

"The assumptions range from where and how the community prefers to live to how much Gypsy/Traveller people want to interact with services and with the settled community.

"Having seen for ourselves the squalid conditions endured by tenants on most council sites, it is clear that, despite enthusiastic talk of ‘dialogue’, understanding of Gypsy/Travellers and their culture is lacking even amongst some of those working most closely with the community.

"We begin by sharing what we‘ve learned about some of the most common misconceptions”.

Mr Oswald says the government and this committee could look at how developers can recoup the money from developing family sites.

He says: "Gypsy/Travellers are often forced to pitch in areas where they don't want to be and others don't want them to be" but that is because of the lack of provision of land.

In session 4, the former Equal Opportunities Committee conducted two inquiries on Gypsy/Travellers leading to two reports;

• Gypsy/Travellers and Care, external
• Where Gypsy/Travellers Live, external

Read the SPICe briefing here., external

Image source, bbc

Chris Oswald from the Equality and Human Rights Commission says there is enormous difficulty in getting planning permission for sites for Gypsy/Travellers.

Mr Oswald says the problem is land and politicians have been unwilling to address this.

He says 13 local authorities have no provision for Gypsy/Travellers at all.

Mr Oswald says that is concentrated in the West of Scotland.

He says Gypsy/Travellers should have a modern site alongside new build sites.

Image source, Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission website, external says: "The Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland is working to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect and promote human rights and to build good relations, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to participate in society.

"The Commission believes that everyone should be treated fairly and with dignity. Unfortunately this doesn’t always happen.

"Discrimination and disadvantage are still common across Scotland. We don’t all have equal chances in life and some forms of discrimination are deep-rooted."

Chris Oswald from the Equality and Human Rights Commission says over the years he has been supportive of the committee's recommendations but "unfortunately there has been very little progress."

Mr Oswald says there are 20,000 Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland and if those people were all to live together in a town, then you would be looking at a town the size of Alloa.

He says the label "Gypsy/Traveller" is potent and it is what this group is classed as and no consideration is given to the individuals withing that, for example if a person is disabled.

Image source, bbc

In March 2013 we reported on the Where Gypsy/Traveller Live report, external which said many Gypsy-Travellers in Scotland were still living in horrendous conditions and continued to suffer discrimination

The Equal Opportunities Committee said they also had problems finding jobs and accessing services like healthcare.

MSPs on the cross-party committee called for a zero-tolerance government campaign to tackle the problem.

The committee visited traveller sites in in Edinburgh, Dalkeith, Perth, Pitlochry, Oban and Lochgilphead.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Equalities and Human Rights Committee convener Christina McKelive introduces:

• MSPs will quiz Chris Oswald from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, external
• Michelle Lloyd from MECOPP, external
• Maureen Finn from STEP: Centre for Mobile Cultures and Education, external

Image source, bbc

In 2015 BBC Scotland reported that Scotland's travelling community was likely to face continued hostility unless there is action to provide it with proper sites.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said there were positive examples but also tensions and confusion over funding and planning.

Lack of provision was blamed for stoking hostility to Gypsy Travellers "pulling in" at some locations.

In 2014 there were 59 named sites in 18 local authority areas in Scotland.

The EHRC had been studying how councils have been developing dedicated sites amid claims of struggles to secure land or planning permission.

Read more here.

The Equality and Human Rights Committee will now take evidence on the progress made on recommendations in the Gypsy/Travellers and Care, external and Where Gypsy/Travellers Live, external reports.

• MSPs qill quiz Chris Oswald from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, external
• Michelle Lloyd from MECOPP, external
• Maureen Finn from STEP

Welcome to Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on 1 June 2017.

MSPs take evidence from the Equality and Human Rights Commission and MECOPP Gypsy/Travellers.

After general questions we’ll bring you extensive coverage of first minister’s questions.

Image source, PA/Scottish Parliament

Conservative MSP Maurice Corry will then lead a member’s debate entitled ‘Combat Stress Finds Veterans in Scotland Face Higher Levels of Deprivation Than Those in Rest of UK’.

The afternoon is given over to the Stage 1 debate on the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill.