Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it is his policy to exempt blue badge holders from parking fines at airports.

Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses, and parking arrangements are subject to contractual agreements between airport operators and car parking companies covered by consumer laws. When drivers pay for private parking, they enter into a contract with the provider and are protected by a range of laws aimed at ensuring fairness for consumers.

The government has recently consulted on measures to improve the regulation of the private parking sector. These include a new single Code of Practice for private operators, proposals for a “one-stop-shop” for parking appeals, and an Appeals Charter for motorists to turn to if they receive what they perceive to be an unfair parking charge. Under the proposals, motorists could be able to appeal their parking charge and see it reduced to a maximum of £20, or cancelled entirely if they have a valid ticket, permit or Blue Badge but failed to display it correctly.