HC Deb 11 March 1994 vol 239 cc405-6W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review arrangements for disabled people's parking bays; and if he will consider extending the powers of local authorities to prevent parking across ramps to homes where access is required for disabled people's vehicles, other than cars.

Mr. Key

Local authorities already have wide powers to create disabled people's parking bays and I am not aware of any suggestion that these powers are inadequate and need to be reviewed.

The Road Traffic Act 1991 contains provision which enable most non-endorsable parking offences, including the unauthorised use of disabled people's parking bays, to be decriminalised and enforced by local authorities. The expectation is that such arrangements will lead to higher levels of enforcement. They are already being introduced in London and they will be made available shortly to local authorities elsewhere.

Parking across ramps provided for disabled people can amount to obstructing the highway — which is an offence, even in streets where parking is not otherwise prohibited. Enforcement is a matter for the police.