§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Lord President of the Council (1) if he has any plans to review the car parking facilities available for disabled people who(a) work within or (b) visit the Palace of Westminster; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many parking spaces are available in the precincts of the Palace of Westminster the use of disabled Members of Parliament and where these are located; and if he will make a statement.
(3) if he has any plans to review the facilities available for car-parking in the Palace of Westminster for Members of Parliament who are disabled; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorThere are 12 parking spaces in Star Chamber Court and three parking spaces in the inner courtyard of Norman Shaw North reserved for the use of vehicles driven by or used by photo-identity pass holders who are disabled. At present, eight hon. Members, four Members' secretaries and nine staff of the House have been authorised by the Serjeant at Arms to use these spaces on a first-come first-served basis. In addition, authority for their use is given from time to time to disabled visitors and to photo-identity pass holders suffering from a temporary period of incapacity. The arrangements for disabled parking in the precincts of the Palace of Westminster are kept under continuous review by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee. They were reviewed and confirmed by the Sub-Committee in January 1988 as a result of a survey carried out into the use of the spaces for the disabled in Star Chamber Court. In March 1990 the Sub-Committee gave approval for an additional parking bay for disabled drivers to be set aside outside Norman Shaw North bringing the total in that area to three and the Sub-Committee agreed in March this year that these three bays should be transferred to the inner courtyard of Norman Shaw North.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to review access for disabled people to the Palace of Westminster; and if he will make a statement.
449W
§ Mr. MacGregorI would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 3 June 1991,(Official Report, column 16). In addition to improvements recently agreed by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee, it is proposed that a comprehensive study should be carried out to identify practicable and acceptable proposals for access by disabled and elderly people which marry the need for better facilities within the constraints imposed by the historic nature of the Palace of Westminster.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Lord President of the Council (1) when he next plans to meet representatives of the police to discuss the misuse of car parking spaces in the Palace of Westminster which are specifically designated for exclusive use by orange badge holders; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what action he proposes to take against hon. and right hon. Members who misuse car parking spaces in the precincts of the Palace of Westminster which are designated for the exclusive use of orange badge holders; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many complaints he has received regarding the alleged misuse or abuse of parking spaces in the Palace of Westminster designated for the use of disabled Members of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.
450W
§ Mr. MacGregorI have received no complaints of misuse or abuse of the spaces reserved for disabled people —they are not specifically set aside for orange badge holders. However, I have asked the authorities of the House to remind others who park their cars in Star Chamber Court not to use the spaces reserved for disabled people. I would welcome the co-operation of all right hon. and hon. Members in observing the recommendation of the Services Committee that the 12 marked spaces in Star Chamber Court and three marked spaces in the inner courtyard of Norman Shaw North should be for the exclusive use of disabled drivers.