Found: E S (HANSARD) HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICIAL REPORT O R D E R O F B U S I N E S S Questions 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, when he will the response to the July 2025 consultation on the Private Parking Code of Practice; and what the timetable is for implementation of the statutory Code under the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

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

All submissions to the 2025 Private Parking Code of Practice consultation are currently being analysed and the government will set out further details on the consultation response and the final Code as soon as possible.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of regulations on private parking companies.

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

The Government will be raising standards in the private parking industry by introducing a new Code of Practice as soon as possible, in accordance with the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made on implementing the statutory Private Parking Code of Practice provided for under the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

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

The Department is considering the findings of the Private Parking Code of Practice consultation very carefully and will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has considered banning the issuance of Penalty Charge Notices on Airport land.

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

Penalty charge notices are reserved for local authorities, not the private land to which you refer.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 requires the government to introduce a Code of Practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. Private parking facilities means facilities for the parking of vehicles on ‘Relevant Land’.

‘Relevant Land’ is defined at paragraph 3 schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedom Act 2012. Landowners, including airports, will be responsible to check if their land is in scope.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority and the British Standards Institution on the proposed implementation of the Private parking code of practice.

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

The government is committed to delivering a new Code of Practice to raise standards across the Private Parking Sector and protect motorists in accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

The government will publish an official consultation response and lay the Code of Practice before Parliament as soon as possible.

As part of this work, my department continues to engage with the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) and the CMA is aware that the government is committed to delivering the Code of Practice as soon as possible.

The Department has not had any recent conversations with the British Standards Institution on these matters.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is his timetable for (a) responding to the consultation on the Private parking code of practice and (b) laying the code before Parliament.

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

The government is committed to delivering a new Code of Practice to raise standards across the Private Parking Sector and protect motorists in accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

The government will publish an official consultation response and lay the Code of Practice before Parliament as soon as possible.

As part of this work, my department continues to engage with the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) and the CMA is aware that the government is committed to delivering the Code of Practice as soon as possible.

The Department has not had any recent conversations with the British Standards Institution on these matters.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to publish proposals for a code of practice for the operating of private car parks.

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

I wish to assure the hon. Member that this government is determined to drive up standards in 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.

A consultation document outlining proposals to raise standard across the private parking industry was published on 11 July 2025.

The consultation has closed and all responses are being analysed.

We expect to the lay the Code in accordance with the negative procedure 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, whether he plans to introduce a statutory code of practice for private parking operators.

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

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.

In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government has recently consulted on its proposals for a new code of practice for private parking operators to follow. The consultation closed on 26 September and the government will respond in due course.

This code will better protect and support motorists whilst balancing the legitimate needs of private parking operators.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made on the Code of Practice consultation.

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

I wish to assure the hon. Member that this government is determined to drive up standards in 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.

A consultation document outlining proposals to raise standard across the private parking industry was published on 11 July 2025.

All responses are now being analysed and the government will publish a response 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 steps are being taken to ensure that private parking operators consider mitigating circumstances, including disability and medical necessity, when issuing parking charge notices.

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

The government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.

Private parking operators are required to consider The Equality Act 2010, including arrangements for drivers with disabilities, and follow the single industry code launched by the main trade associations.

Operators risk being banned from issuing charges if they do not reasonably comply with the code of practice.

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.

A consultation document outlining proposals to raise standard across the private parking industry was published on 11 July 2025.

As part of this consultation, views and comments on implications that proposals may have on groups defined by reference to protected characteristics was requested (Question 35a).

All responses are now being analysed and the government will publish a response 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, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring private parking enforcement companies to provide an online appeals option for motorists to challenge parking charge notices.

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

The government recognises motorists concerns about the private parking industry and the existing appeals process. Under the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, a new Code of Practice will be introduced to raise standards across the sector.

On 11^th July 2025, the government published a consultation, setting out its proposals for the Code and specifically sought views on the perceived shortcomings of the current appeals process.

Responses are now being analysed, and the government will publish its final proposals in due course.

Many parking operators do provide an online appeals platform for motorists to use.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to address the situation whereby motorists risk losing the discounted rate if they pursue an appeal against a private parking charge.

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

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.

In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government is preparing a Code of Practice that will provide guidance on the operation and management of private parking facilities.

In preparation for the new Code, the government published a consultation document in 2025 outlining its proposals to raise standards across the private parking industry.

This consultation specifically sought views on the current 40% discount rate for early payment of parking charges and the concerns motorists have regarding its application. All responses are now being analysed, and the government will publish a formal response and set out its final plans 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 assessment has been made of the adequacy of the compliance of private parking companies using contract breach terms to apply a penalty when there is no option for the driver to decline to enter into the contact, for instance where signage setting out contract terms is only placed within an area where charges are automatically applied on entry.

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

Private parking operators are regulated through their membership of the two main trade associations. These are the British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC). The BPA and IPC have launched a single industry Code of Practice which their members must follow. The industry Code of Practice requires private parking operators to provide a consideration period to allow a motorist the time to read the terms and conditions and decide whether to accept or reject them before a parking charge can be issued. The industry consideration periods vary from 1 minute to 10 minutes depending on the size of car park. The trade associations currently monitor compliance with its Code of Practice.

The Government is determined to drive up standards in 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. My department recently ran a consultation outlining its proposals to raise standards across the private parking sector (available from gov.uk here). The consultation included proposals for a minimum consideration period of 5 minutes to be included in the new Government Code of Practice. All responses are now being analysed and the Government will publish a response, together with the new code, in due course.

Our consultation proposed that compliance with the Government Code of Practice would be monitored by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies, who would report compliance figures to the Government.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of consumer protections relating to private parking companies.

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

The Government is aware of motorist concerns regarding poor practice from some private parking operators and is determined to raise standards.

In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government is preparing a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.

The government has recently consulted on its proposals for a new code of practice for private parking operators to follow. The consultation closed on 26 September, and the government will respond 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, with reference to the RAC Report on Motoring 2025, published in October 2025, what assessment he has made of that report's recommendations on the official Private parking code of practice.

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

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector and welcomes the support and views of the RAC, along with other motoring groups and parking industry representatives.

In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government is preparing a code of practice that provides guidance on the operation and management of private parking facilities.

The government has recently consulted on its proposals for the code and will respond 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 assessment he has made of the potential merits of using automated parking systems to help tackle (a) congestion and (b) parking issues.

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

The government recognises the growth of automated vehicle technologies and services in the UK.

The government is focused on delivering the Private Parking Code of Practice, which is being developed in accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. Any technological innovations will need to be compliant with the standards in the Code which will be made public 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 assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of (a) transparency and (b) accountability in the private parking sector.

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

The government is aware of concerns about poor practice from a number of parking operators and is determined to raise standards.

In accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, the government is preparing a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.

The government has recently consulted on its proposals for this new code. The consultation closed on 26 September, and the government will respond in due course.