Hospital Parking Charges Bill - As Amended at Further Consideration Stage

Bill - as amended at Further Consideration Stage - Full Print Version.pdf (328.84 kb)

1. Ban on charging for hospital parking

2. Commencement

3. Short title

Bill

Prohibit the imposition of charges for parking vehicles in hospital car parks.

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Ban on charging for hospital parking

1.—(1) No person may impose or recover a monetary charge with respect to the parking of a vehicle in a car park at a hospital by someone who is attending the hospital in a relevant capacity as follows⁠—

(a) for the purpose of⁠—

(i) work or employment at the hospital, or

(ii) providing services at the hospital,

(b) as a patient of the hospital, or

(2) For avoidance of doubt⁠—

(a) a person is not to be regarded as attending a hospital as a visitor merely because the person parks a vehicle in a car park at the hospital, but

(b) a person is to be regarded as attending a hospital as a visitor if the person parks a vehicle in a car park at the hospital in connection with providing transport to or from the hospital for someone else who is attending the hospital in a relevant capacity (whether as a visitor or otherwise).

(3) In this section⁠—

(a) the references to a hospital are to a hospital⁠—

(i) within the meaning given by Article 2 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, and

(ii) for which a Health and Social Care Trust has responsibility,

(b) the references to a car park at a hospital are to a car park or parking area which is part of the premises or facilities of the hospital and made available for use by people who have reason to attend the hospital in a relevant capacity,

(c) the references to parking in a car park are to parking in the car park in accordance with whatever reasonable conditions (including restrictions) apply in relation to the parking of vehicles in the car park.