Debate contribution: Hospital Parking Charges Bill: Final Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Mike Nesbitt on 20 April 2026.

MLA: Mr Mike Nesbitt
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 20 April 2026
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Executive Committee Business
Heading: Hospital Parking Charges Bill: Final Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5494002

Text

I beg to move
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Today's Final Stage debate concludes the legislative process for the Hospital Parking Charges Bill in the Assembly. I thank all Members for the contributions that they have made to the process. The purpose of the Bill is to defer the abolition of hospital parking charges, as provided for in the Hospital Parking Charges Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. To be clear, it is not a reversal of principle, nor does it reflect any lack of readiness on the part of the health and social care trusts to implement the 2022 Act. The Act was agreed with the best of intentions to reduce the financial burden on staff, patients and visitors. That remains a legitimate and compassionate aim. Members will be acutely aware, however, that the financial context facing the health and social care sector has changed significantly since that Act was passed. In response, the purpose of the deferral is to protect front-line services from the immediate and unmanaged loss of income that the abolition of parking charges would have entailed. Their abolition would have removed approximately £7 million each year from trusts' budgets. In the current financial environment, that loss would inevitably have to be offset through making reductions elsewhere, which would directly affect the services provided to patients and families. That is the context in which we are working: unprecedented wider financial challenges facing Health and Social Care (HSC). The projected deficit facing my Department is approximately £760 million in the current financial year, and that deficit is expected to grow further in subsequent years. Although we pride ourselves on having a national health service, the reality of the Budget proposals published by the Minister of Finance is that the funding available for health services in Northern Ireland in the coming years will be relatively lower than that in England, Scotland or Wales, even though it has been confirmed time and time again that need here is higher. That means that difficult and responsible decisions are unavoidable. In that context, proceeding with the abolition of parking charges at this time would simply be unaffordable. I reassure Members that the deferral is not being sought because the trusts are unprepared; on the contrary, the trusts have worked responsibly to prepare for the implementation of the 2022 Act. Significant investment has already been made in traffic management systems designed to control parking, protect blue-light routes and safeguard designated spaces once charging is removed. That investment will not be wasted. The new traffic management systems will be required when charges are eventually abolished. In the meantime, they will provide valuable data to help trusts improve the management and efficiency of car parks. I turn briefly to the details of the Bill. Rather than specifying a single new commencement date, the Bill provides for the date to be set subsequently by regulation subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. That will ensure that the Assembly retains oversight and has the opportunity to debate and improve the timing of implementation. It will be informed by the reports to be prepared on the cost implications of the 2022 Act and its delay. That follows an amendment that Mr Colin McGrath proposed that was accepted at Consideration Stage. The Bill allows for deferral for up to three years, with May 2029 acting as the backstop.
Importantly, if financial sustainability is achieved sooner than expected, the legislation allows the 2022 Act to come into operation at an earlier date. During the deferral period, staff parking permits will remain free of charge, and a needs-based system will continue to operate to ensure that those with the greatest need have access to on-site parking. The deferral of the Act means that staff will continue to be able to access the public car parks, which I know was a concern. On the impact on the most vulnerable, the Department's current car parking policy already provides for free and concessionary parking for patients on specific care pathways. A regional eligibility matrix applies free parking not only to patients but also, where appropriate, to next of kin, partners and visitors for those receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy, renal dialysis and critical or high-dependency care. Trusts are given discretion to extend those exemptions in other circumstances, particularly where the frequency or duration of visits would otherwise result in significant parking costs. In response to concerns expressed by Members at the Second and Consideration Stages, departmental officials wrote to the trusts' operational leads on 14 April to reinforce the need to monitor uptake of exemptions, target areas where uptake is low and ensure ward-level staff actively advise patients of their entitlements. Eligibility information should be clearly communicated through leaflets, posters and trusts' websites. While I appreciate the desire to further extend the eligibility criteria, that would result in a loss of income and thus defeat the purpose of the Bill. Similarly, hypothecating the income from car parking charges for a new service, however beneficial, would simply mean that less funding is available for existing services that are already under severe pressure. I hope that Members will appreciate that the timetable for the passage of the legislation has been extremely tight. Executive approval was secured later than anticipated, making accelerated passage necessary to avoid the 2022 Act coming into force on 12 May without appropriate financial safeguards. Officials are working closely with trusts to ensure that contingency arrangements are in place should there be any short transitional period. Being in Government requires making decisions that are not always popular but that are necessary and responsible, particularly in times of severe financial pressure. The Bill does not abandon the Assembly's original intent. However, it does recognise the current reality and seeks to strike a balance between fairness and financial sustainability. On that basis, I urge Members to support the Bill.

970 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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