MPs debate hospital car parking charges
1 September 2014
On Monday 1 September MPs took part in a debate in the House of Commons Chamber on hospital car parking charges. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee.
The Member in charge for this debate was Jackie Doyle-Price, Conservative MP for Thurrock. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Dr Daniel Poulter, responded to the debate on behalf of the Government.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
- Watch Parliament TV: MPs debate hospital car parking charges, on Monday 1 September 2014
- Read Commons Hansard: MPs debate hospital car parking charges
Motion for debate
MPs debated the following motion:
"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."
How the subject for debate was selected
The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee, following representations from Robert Halfon, Steve Rotheram, Jim Shannon, Jim Cunningham and Stewart Jackson at the meeting on Tuesday 1 July 2014. The debate was announced following the public meeting on 15 July.
- News: Backbench debates announced for 3 and 8 July
- News: Backbench debates announced for 1, 4 and 8 September
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays at 3pm to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject, including those raised in e-petitions or national campaigns.
An MP must make a representation before the Committee for an e-petition or petition to be debated; e-petitions exceeding the Government's 100,000 signature threshold are not automatically allocated backbench time.
The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal. The Committee's meetings are always conducted in public and can be watched on Parliament TV.