HL Deb 12 June 1989 vol 508 cc1121-2

The Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will introduce a scheme for the issue of general passes to small businesses, enabling their vehicles making unscheduled calls to park without hindrance.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, the regulation of parking and waiting is a matter for local highway authorities. They can at present exempt business vehicles from normal parking and waiting restrictions for the purpose of loading and unloading. They also have powers to introduce designated business parking schemes.

The Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Most of the people who are affected by parking regulations are those in the service industries—electricians, plumbers and so on. They can obtain permission from police districts but often they have to answer emergency calls from outside those districts. How are they to avoid fines and clamping, which at the moment beset them, in order to carry out their emergency calls properly and efficiently?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, parking for business users and service industries has been discussed with the local authority associations and the police. I am advised that the police look sympathetically on the type of person whom the noble Marquess described. However, the general response has been that to grant exemptions to one class of road user would inevitably lead to similar requests from other sections of the motoring public.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, does not the noble Viscount agree that if there was a general lifting of regulations to provide for such a facility it would make nonsense of the fact that we are still waiting, after nearly four years, for legislation on the Home Report, dealing with street works which create congestion in busy thoroughfares?

Viscount Davidson

Yes, my Lords, but the last part of the noble Lord's question is not absolutely relevant to the Question on the Order Paper. However, I agree entirely with the noble Lord that it is essential that exemptions are kept to a minimum if parking controls are to be effective. Difficulties are envisaged over enforcement and there is scope for abuse.