§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many local police authorities have recognised the special badge issued by the British Medical Association to doctors for parking purposes; how many have not yet done so, and what are the main reasons for this non-recognition.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, some time ago the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis agreed that it might help police officers in London to carry out their duties if the Association issued a windscreen badge, for display in certain circumstances, indicating the address at which the doctor concerned might be found. This was brought to the attention of chief constables, but my right honourable and learned friend has no information as to the number of areas in which the badge is used, and he would not feel justified in asking for a special return. There can be no question of creating a special class of private citizens by use of the badge, and the badge itself does not carry with it formal exemption from parking restrictions.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for his reply.
§ LORD BOOTHBYWhy?
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, in view of the fact that a doctor may have to park his car anywhere on the public highway in a case of emergency—for example, in the case of a road accident—should not the Minister urge some greater degree of uniformity in this respect?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I have indicated the well-known facts of where my right honourable and learned friend's responsibilities begin and end in this matter. As my noble friend is doubtless aware, the B.M.A. were urged to approach chief constables in other areas. With regard to the particular point raised about doctors being called to emergencies, it is impossible in all the circumstances that may arise to give doctors, as a class, immunity in respect of the traffic law. But in cases of the kind that my noble friend has described, the use of the badge and the police officer's knowledge that it is a doctor's car, would, of course, lead to the officer's using his discretion.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, while the noble Lord has stated that he cannot give immunity to all doctors—and I agree that that would be a wide concession—can he say whether there are cases where doctors have been convicted or fined for parking offences when they have pleaded that they were engaged on a matter of urgency?
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I cannot quote specific examples, but the position is that some local authorities are prepared to make special arrangements whereby some excess charges due from doctors for exceeding parking meter time are waived. Secondly, if a doctor is served with a fixed penalty notice for a parking offence, representations can be made to the Commissioner of Police that the matter should not be proceeded with. In questions of possible criminal proceedings, as my noble friend will be aware, the Commissioner cannot give an assurance in advance that they will be waived, but all representations are considered carefully and sympathetically on their merits.