§ 24. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to provide for the making of appeals in cases where local authorities refuse applications for exemption from parking meter charges made by disabled drivers.
§ Mr. HayNo, Sir. The administration of parking meter schemes has been deliberately left to the responsibility of local authorities, who should in our view continue to decide whether to grant exemption from charges to a disabled driver.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the case I have in mind is that of a man who has lost both legs and whose appeal for a free parking place has been turned down by the local authority? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this man is anxious to know to whom he can now appeal? He cannot appeal again to the local authority which has turned him down. Can he ask the Minister to arbitrate on whether he has a case?
§ Mr. HayNo. With respect to the hon. Gentleman, I think it would be a little unreasonable for appeals to be made to my right hon. Friend for a decision in these cases. These are matters of local responsibility, and in our view 1147 local authorities have a much greater knowledge of the local circumstances than the Ministry could possibly have. For that reason, we deliberately leave decisions on these questions to the local authorities.
§ Mr. AwberyIs there no appeal against the decision of the local authority?
§ Mr. HayThere is no appeal in the technical sense, but I suggest that the hon. Gentleman's constituent might well try approaching the local authority again.