Hospital Parking Charges Bill - As Introduced

Hospital Parking Charges Bill - As Introduced - Full Print.pdf (221.71 kb)

A

Bill

to

Prohibit the imposition by Health and Social Care hospitals of charges for car parking; and for connected purposes.

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

Hospitals not to charge for car parking

1. After Article 3 of the Health and Medicines (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 (extension of powers of the Department for financing health care) insert⁠—

“No power to charge for car parks

3A.—(1) The Department may not impose a charge in connection with the parking of vehicles by workers at hospitals, patients at hospitals or visitors to hospitals (whether in reliance on Article 3(2)(h) or on any other enactment or power).

(2) A Health and Social Care Trust, and any other body referred to in Article 3(3)(a), may not impose a charge in connection with the parking of vehicles by workers at hospitals, patients at hospitals or visitors to hospitals.

(3) The prohibitions in paragraphs (1) and (2) extend to entering into arrangements, or permitting other persons to enter into arrangements, in connection with the provision or management of facilities as a result of which a charge will or may be imposed in connection with the parking of vehicles by workers at hospitals, patients at hospitals or visitors to hospitals.

(4) Nothing in this Article entitles the Department, a Health and Social Care Trust or any other person to decide not to make such provision for parking facilities at hospitals as it would otherwise consider necessary or appropriate.”.

Commencement

2. This Act comes into operation at the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3. This Act may be cited as the Hospital Parking Charges Act (Northern Ireland) 2021.