§ 1. Sir B. Jannerasked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that doctors sometimes exceed the parking limit when attending patients and have to pay the necessary fine; and whether she will take steps to ensure that doctors are not fined when attending sick people.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Stephen Swingler)I know that some doctors have been fined for exceeding parking limits but it has happened very rarely. The police exercise discretion in favour of doctors whose cars carry a badge provided by the British Medical Association and we do not think this arrangement needs changing.
§ Sir B. JannerWill my hon. Friend consider the position further, particularly in view of the fact that doctors in Central London and places of that nature find 554 it impossible to take on National Health Service patients because they literally cannot assist them, particularly in maternity cases? Can he not do something about making it clear to the authorities that they should not fine people of this kind?
§ Mr. SwinglerThis ought to be clear, but if my hon. Friend cares to draw my attention to any cases where discretion should be exercised by the enforcement authority and is not being exercised, we shall be glad to look into it.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerWill the hon. Gentleman also consider the possibility of making more clear the position of doctors exceeding the speed limit when driving to emergency cases? Recently, there have been one or two cases of doctors going to emergency cases being fined for exceeding the limit.
§ Mr. SwinglerThis again is governed by the exercise of discretion, which we think is the best way of dealing with it. However, if there are cases where discretion ought to have been exercised and was not, again we shall be glad to go into them.