§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his reply of 3 June, Official Report, column 449, if he will give details of the three payments from departmental funds in the past 12 months made in respect of fixed penalties imposed for parking fines.
§ Mr. HurdTwo of the three payments arose in respect of fixed penalty notices incurred by Home Office official cars parked in controlled zones in the course of official business, in one instance while the driver escorted visitors to a meeting in a Home Office building, and in the other, while awaiting the departure of a senior Home Office official from a meeting. The third instance involved the private car of a departmental board member who parked in a controlled zone while attending a meeting in a Home Office building, having been unable readily to gain access to an official car park. In all three cases, there were extenuating circumstances which were considered, exceptionally, to justify meeting the cost from public funds. The total cost involved was £30.