§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he takes account of money received by hospital trusts from car parking fees in the allocation of funds; and if he will make a statement; [64712]
(2) what recent representations he has received on the levying of car parking fees for (a) hospital staff and (b) visitors to hospitals; [64715]
(3) if he will estimate how much money was received by hospital trusts from car parking fees in the last year for which figures are available. [64714]
(4) what policy guidelines he issues to hospital trusts over the levying of car parking fees for (a) visitors and (b) staff; and if he will publish such guidelines. [64713]
§ Mr. LammyNational health service trusts can charge for car parking in order to raise additional income to improve the health service using income generation powers. Amounts collected from individual income generation schemes are not reported separately in trusts' accounts and the income raised is not taken into account in the allocation of funds to NHS trusts.
The Department issued guidance to NHS trusts in January 1996 in the booklet 'NHS income generation, car parking charges, A guide to Implementation'. A copy of this is available in the Library. It is left to individual hospitals to decide whether or not to charge for car parking and the cost of such charges in light of local circumstances. Where car parking charges are introduced, 1037W patients who are eligible to claim reimbursement of travelling expenses under the hospital travel costs scheme may have the charges reimbursed.
The Department of Health receives a small number of enquiries about car parking charges each year.