Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received from Welsh Ministers and the Welsh Language Commissioner in relation to the Private Parking Code of Practice to be published under the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne

The proposed Private Parking Code of Practice will not set out any stipulations regarding the use of the Welsh language. The proposed Code of Practice will provide a single set of standards for the parking industry that will deliver fairness for motorists across Wales, as well as in England and Scotland.

The Government recently conducted a Call for Evidence to help ensure that our forthcoming consultation on capping parking charges and debt recovery fees is as well as informed as possible. Some members of the Welsh Parliament provided contributions to this Call for Evidence and their submissions were reviewed as part of our analysis of the Call for Evidence responses.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to publish the Code of Practice required to bring the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 into force.

Answered by Jacob Young

Further to the answer given to Question UIN 15378 on 20 February 2024, following the call for evidence, we intend to publish a consultation on the caps on parking charges and debt recovery fees this year. The government is committed to reissuing the Code as quickly as possible.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing regulatory scrutiny of private parking companies.

Answered by Jacob Young

The Government is aware of concerns regarding the practices of some private parking operators. Following the introduction of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the Government is taking action to improve the regulation of the private parking industry.