MPs debate Hospital Car Parking Charges, Monday 1 September c.5.00pm

UKParliament

Our goal is to post up information on work undertaken in the House of Commons that has a consumer focus but which may not be highlighted elsewhere.

We have posted this on the Parking Tickets, Fines & Parking board because we thought some of you might be interested in the topic of debate. We encourage discussion and comments concerning the topic or content of this thread.


Hospital Car Parking Charges – Backbench Business Debate

Expected to commence on Monday 1 September between 5.00-5.30pm* in the House of Commons Chamber (dependant on other business)


The motion for debate is:

"That this House welcomes the Government’s guidance that hospital car parking charges should be fair and proportionate; notes that some hospitals are still charging patients and their visitors excessive fees of up to £500 per week; further notes that the charity Bliss has said that parents with premature babies are having to pay on average £32 per week;

further notes that for many patients it is essential that they travel to hospital by car; believes that such charges affect vulnerable patients at a very difficult time; and urges the Government to consider ways in which hospital car parking fees can be reduced."

This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee following representation from Robert Halfon, Steve Rotheram, Jim Shannon, Jim Cunningham and Stewart Jackson on Tuesday 1 July 2014.


About Backbench Business Debates:

The House of Commons Backbench Business Committee has a limited allocation of time outside Government control in which it can schedule subjects for debate suggested by backbench Members of Parliament.

The Committee can consider any subject for debate. This includes subjects raised in national or local campaigns, reports by select committees and other groups and issues suggested by constituents, including by people who have signed an e-petition or a traditional paper petition (there is no restriction on the number of signatures required).

To find out more about the work of the Backbench Business Committee visit their web pages at Backbench Business Committee


How to watch:

The debate can be viewed on Parliament TV (Silverlight or Windows Media Player required to stream TV): Parliament TV Player

Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available three hours after they happen in Today’s Commons Debates

* It may begin later if any Urgent Questions or Statements are granted on the day, as Parliamentary business is subject to change.

Thanks
DOT

bazster

Interesting. Rare for any private parking matters to get an airing in the House.

UKParliament

bazster wrote: »

Interesting. Rare for any private parking matters to get an airing in the House.

Bazster - you can find out the back story to the debate by seeing the representations put forward by the MPs requesting the debate -

Backbench Business Committee Transcript: 1 July 2014 - scroll down to Question 3.

Hope this is useful/interesting?
Thanks
DOT

Umkomaas

Thanks for heads up on this. Pity there seems precious little to be included in the debate about the spin-off industry leeching on the back of hospital parking arrangements in the shape of the private parking industry which has little compunction in imposing swingeing £100 penalties on cancer patients, bereaved families, prem-birth parents, A&E patients (often not seen for hours on admission), elderly/confused and outpatients whose appointments over-run, for being back 'late' to their cars, often by no more than a few minutes.

I will watch with interest!

bazster

Yes, very interesting, thanks. I agree with Umkomaas that it's slightly disappointing there is no reference to the secondary "industry" parasitising off of hospital car parks, but on the other hand a discussion in the house needs to be limited and focused if it's to make best use of the time available.

UKParliament

bazster wrote: »

Yes, very interesting, thanks. I agree with Umkomaas that it's slightly disappointing there is no reference to the secondary "industry" parasitising off of hospital car parks, but on the other hand a discussion in the house needs to be limited and focused if it's to make best use of the time available.

Thanks bazster and Umkomaas

Glad the info was useful - we are unsure of the exact content of the debate - so don't know if any further topics (such as those you mentioned) will be raised, but we'll post up a link to the transcript once we have it for those who are interested.

Thanks
DOT

Umkomaas

Debate just starting and viewable on Sky channel 504.

Dee140157

605 on Virgin media.
Not many there to debate!

bazster

A large lady just called for enforcement to prevent the vulnerable being targeted. Pretty clear she was talking about PPC's.

Some London MP now slagging off the ParkingEye guessing game and demanding pay on exit.

Half_way

Parking eye at burton hospital getting a hammering now

bazster

A Derbyshire MP. Getting really worked up about PE and Burton.