Hospital Parking Charges Bill

As Amended at Consideration Stage

CONTENTS

1.       New date for ban on charges

2.       Reporting on cost implications

3.       Commencement and short title

A Bill to further postpone the ban under the Hospital Parking Charges Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 on charging money for parking vehicles in hospital car parks.

Be it enacted by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by His Majesty as follows:

New date for ban on charges

1.—(1) Despite section 1 of the Hospital Parking Charges Act (Northern Ireland) 2024, section 1 of the Hospital Parking Charges Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (“the 2022 Act”) has effect as follows.

(2) If section 1 of the 2022 Act is not in effect when this Act comes into operation, that section remains of no effect until taking effect on the specified date.

(3) If section 1 of the 2022 Act is in effect when this Act comes into operation, that section—

(a) ceases having effect immediately, and

(b) resumes having effect on the specified date.

(4) The specified date in either situation is such date, which is to be no later than 12 May 2029, as the Department of Health may by regulations specify for the purpose of this section.

(5) Regulations under this Act may not be made unless a draft of them has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.

Reporting on cost implications

2.—(1) The Department of Health must, within the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which this Act comes into operation, prepare a report on the total costs arising from the delayed implementation of the Hospital Parking Charges Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 to date.

(2) For each complete financial year thereafter, the Department must prepare a report setting out the costs associated with the Hospital Parking Charges Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 during that year.

(3) The Department must, after preparing a report under this section—

(a) lay a copy of the report before the Assembly, and

(b) publish the report in such manner as the Department considers appropriate.

(4) This section expires on the date specified in section 1(4).

Commencement and short title

3.—(1) This Act comes into operation on the day after receiving Royal Assent.

(2) This Act may be cited as the Hospital Parking Charges Act (Northern Ireland) 2026.