Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will amend schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 so that it does not place a burden of proof on a registered keeper of a vehicle to provide evidence that a parking penalty charge notice issued by a private firm was not received by post.

We are currently conducting a review of off-street parking policy. A discussion paper entitled ‘Parking reform: tackling unfair practices was’ published earlier this year. We received in excess of 500 detailed responses to the discussion paper where the issue of burden of proof being on the registered keeper was raised. We are currently considering this issue as we develop policy options, and will publish a response in due course.