Businesses: Town-centre Parking

Lord McKenzie of Luton Excerpts

Tuesday 25th February 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

I thank it is worth offering your Lordships a little context in responding to my noble friend’s Question. Local authorities’ total income and net profits from parking more than doubled under the previous Administration and councils are still making net profits. We also know that there is public concern. The Transport Select Committee said in a report published last year:

“There is a deep-rooted … perception that local authorities view parking enforcement as a cash cow”.

All independent reports show that parking is affecting high streets and local businesses. Therefore, I am very pleased to be able to confirm to my noble friend today that the Government have just completed a consultation on new measures to tackle this problem, and are considering those responses before announcing what action they are going to take.

[Lord McKenzie of Luton (Lab)]

My Lords, with the Government’s renewed interest in tackling parking charges and easing the burden on local businesses, can the Minister explain why the three London councils with the highest parking charges and fines per person are Conservative? In fact, in London, Conservative boroughs took double the amount in parking fines and charges per residence compared with Labour boroughs.

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

As the noble Lord heard me say, this is a problem that we think started under measures introduced by the previous Government.