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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to review the regulation of the level of charges made by private parking operators for vehicles parking on private land in respect of the Unfair Terms of Consumer Contracts Act 1999.

The Government promotes a system of self-regulation by the private parking industry. Private parking companies must be a member of a trade association if they wish to access the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data and then issue parking charges to the owner of a vehicle. The two parking trade associations, the British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC), have their own codes of practice and appeal procedures to which they expect their members to adhere.

Sir Greg Knight has introduced a Private Members’ Bill that seeks to create an independent code of practice for private parking companies. In line with the Manifesto, the Government fully supports Sir Greg’s Bill and seeks to get the fairest deal for motorists whilst helping to tackle rogue private parking companies. Should the Bill progress, there will be an opportunity to consider the obligations on private parking companies. The Bill is due for second reading on 2 February 2018. Further information is available here http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/parkingcodeofpractice.html