Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to encourage private car park operators to (a) lower and (b) scrap their fares during the covid-19 outbreak.

While the private parking industry is currently self-regulating, government has been collaborating closely with the industry during the response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. The private parking appeals services voluntarily suspended processing new appeals, meaning that parking operators are unable to pursue charges against a motorist while an appeal has been registered. Many operators have offered free car parking to NHS workers in private car parks, and government has been working with operators, active travel firms and businesses to explore how car parking can be used to promote cycling and walking as part of the recovery effort.