Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Monday, 14 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 March 2005. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Monday, 21 March 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what advice his Department gives to hospital trusts on the policy of charging (a) staff, (b) visitors and (c) patients for hospital car parking.

Answer: Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department gives to hospital trusts on the policy of charging (a) staff, (b) visitors and (c) patients for hospital car parking. [222284] Ms Rosie Winterton: Guidance on car parking charges was issued to national health service hospitals in March 1996. The guidance allows individual hospitals to decide whether or not to charge staff, visitors and patients for car parking and the cost of such charges in the light of local circumstances. Where charges are introduced, patients who are eligible to claim reimbursement of travelling expenses under the hospital travel costs scheme may have the charges reimbursed.

Secondary information