Found: proposals we are announcing today will deliver on the Government’s legal obligation in the Parking (Code of Practice) Act

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on the potential impact of auditing car park operator records where recurring disputes over charges have been identified on County Court caseloads.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is aware of the high volumes of small claims from the parking industry and is determined to drive up standards in the parking sector. The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking. Alongside the new Code, my department is also developing a Certification Scheme which will set out rules for auditing private parking operator compliance with the Code; this will include audits of notices of parking charges including those that progress to the County Court.

The private parking industry is currently self-regulating and whilst the Secretary of State has not had discussions with the Justice Secretary on this issue, my officials have had meetings with their counterparts at the Ministry of Justice and are working together to develop a Justice Impact Test to assess the impact of introducing the Code and the Certification Scheme on the justice system.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help tackle fraud in car parks.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is aware of concerns about the poor practice and behaviour of some parking operators and is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector. The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 requires the Secretary of State to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.

My department is currently consulting on standards within the new Code and its compliance framework. The Private Parking Code of Practice Consultation is available on gov.uk here. The consultation closing date has recently been extended to 26 September 2025.

Fraud investigations, however, are matter for the police.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of private carpark regulation.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is aware of concerns about the poor practice and behaviour of some parking operators and is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector. The private parking industry is currently self-regulating through the two main trade associations: the British Parking Association and the International Parking Community.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 requires the Secretary of State to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. My department is currently consulting on standards within the new Code and its compliance framework.

The Private Parking Code of Practice Consultation runs until 5 September 2025 and is available on https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/private-parking-code-of-practice.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of trends in the level of inappropriate use of parent and child parking bays; and whether she plans to legislate in this area.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The government is aware of concerns regarding the abuse of valuable parking resources and is determined to raise standards.

For private land, the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the government to prepare a Code of Practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. On 11 July, the government published a consultation document setting out its proposals for raising standards across the private parking industry.

On public land, Local Authorities are empowered to determine their parking arrangements through the Traffic Management Act 2004, which requires them to ensure that parking policies meet the requirements of their local area.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to monitor compliance with consumer protection legislation by private parking companies.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is aware of concerns regarding the actions of some private parking operators and is determined to drive up standards across the sector.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.

As part of this, the Government will be launching a consultation on its proposals to raise standards in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions his Department has had with stakeholders on the operation of private parking management and appeals systems.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The government is committed to raising standards across the private parking sector. The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the government to prepare a Code of Practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. The government is progressing with plans to protect and support motorists and will be launching a consultation in due course.

As part of this work, my officials have regular monthly meetings with the two parking Trade Associations and quarterly meetings with motorist representatives. In addition to these regular meetings, officials also have ad hoc meetings with both groups, dependent on business needs.

On 9^th June, I hosted a meeting with the two parking Trade Associations and motorist groups to hear their views on the Code of Practice.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to establish a regulator for private parking operators.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The government is committed to raising standards across the private parking sector. The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the government to prepare a Code of Practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. The government is progressing with plans to protect and support motorists and will be launching a consultation in due course.

As part of this work, my officials have regular monthly meetings with the two parking Trade Associations and quarterly meetings with motorist representatives. In addition to these regular meetings, officials also have ad hoc meetings with both groups, dependent on business needs.

On 9^th June, I hosted a meeting with the two parking Trade Associations and motorist groups to hear their views on the Code of Practice.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will instruct the DVLA to conduct an audit of car park records in instances where a pattern of disputes has been identified.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice that promotes good practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

We are progressing with plans to protect and support all motorists. We will be launching a consultation in due course to help us further understand the potential impacts of the Code and its accompanying enforcement framework, including our approach to scrutiny and oversight.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to commence the provisions on consumer protection in the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 requires the Secretary of State to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. The purpose of the Code of Practice is therefore to raise standards in the parking sector, which will, in turn, benefit the motorists who use private parking facilities.

The Government is currently reviewing how best to raise standards in the industry, and we plan to launch a consultation on this shortly.

Found: Freedoms Act 2012, but in relation to Scotland it is as set out in section 10 (3) of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act

Found: concerns about private parking operators’ behaviour, led to the introduction of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act

Found: number of changes to the parking industry were introduced by the UK Government in the Parking (Code of Practice) Act