By Steve Bargeton, political editor

A PARLIAMENTARY investigation is to be held into parking charges at all Scottish hospitals after complaints from people visiting Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

Perth MSP Roseanna Cunningham, convener of the powerful Holyrood health committee, confirmed yesterday that her colleagues had agreed in principle to look into the controversial issue.

It is hoped that an inquiry can be held and concluded before the summer recess at the end of June.

The matter was brought to the attention of MSPs by Dundee West MSP Kate Maclean after NHS Tayside backed plans to charge up to £15 for parking in the grounds of Ninewells Hospital.

The two car parks closest to the hospital will have a £1.50 four-hour limit. But non-visitors who park their cars for longer than seven hours will face a £15 charge, in an attempt to target motorists who park in the hospital grounds before going to work in the city.

Yesterday Ms Cunningham said that with hospital services becoming more centralised, people are forced to use their cars to get to them and are being hit with big car parking charges.

“The idea of an inquiry was proposed by a member of the committee who, like me, is a Tayside MSP, and the Ninewells parking review has generated quite a lot of negative headlines,” she said.

“I have heard people in Edinburgh are extremely concerned about the situation at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

“We are aware this was a widespread problem.

“A great many people have to travel considerable distances, either as relatives or visitors or for treatment themselves.

“I have had people from as far away as Comrie involved in taking relatives to Ninewells for treatment who find the car parking situation extremely difficult.”

Ms Cunningham said that for many people public transport was not an option.

“The issue is becoming quite problematic for people, and this is probably an issue expressed in constituency mailbags across Scotland,” she said.

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said, “Guidance on charging for car parking on NHS sites was issued to all NHS boards in 2004.

“While it is a matter for individual NHS boards whether they charge for car parking or not, we do expect them to follow this guidance.”