To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what legislation CCTV cameras may be used to enforce parking restrictions; what guidance she has (a) issued and (b) plans to issue in the next 12 months to local authorities on the use of such cameras, with particular reference to the impact on (i) disabled drivers and (ii) drivers collecting passengers or unloading goods; what discussions she has had with motoring groups about the use of such cameras; and if she will make a statement. (190881)

The London Local Authorities Act 2000 empowers traffic authorities in London to use CCTV to enforce parking. The civil enforcement of parking provisions in part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 will be applied from 31 March 2008, replacing the London legislation and giving all English traffic authorities the option of using CCTV to detect parking contraventions. The new legislation requires CCTV cameras and associated evidence recording equipment to be certified by the Secretary of State for Transport.

On 28 February this year, the Secretary of State published statutory guidance on civil parking enforcement in accordance with section 87 of the Traffic Management Act. That guidance makes it clear that CCTV should be considered only where enforcement is difficult or sensitive, and it should not be used where exemptions, such as those for loading and unloading and for ‘blue-badge’ holders, are not visible to the equipment. Guidance on the procedures for obtaining certification of CCTV equipment was also published on 28 February. Further and more detailed operational guidance will be published later in March.

The AA and the RAC were members of the working group that advised the Department on the regulations and guidance to implement part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.