SCOTTISH HOSPITAL PARKING CHARGES IN THE NEWS.

SCOTTISH HOSPITAL PARKING CHARGES IN THE NEWS.

MASSIVE LABOUR HYPOCRISY OVER PARKING CHARGES 'A TIMELY REMINDER OF THE PFI BURDEN'.

SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY MOTO, *WE KNOW THE SNP ARE BETTER THAN US" THAT'S WHY WE STEAL THEIR IDEAS!

SNP Lothians MSP and former GP Dr Ian McKee has hit out at the hypocrisy of Labour MSP Paul Martin ahead of Mr Martin's launch of a Members' Bill banning parking charges at Scottish hospitals.As a result of action by the SNP Government, parking at the majority of Scottish hospitals has been free since January 1st 2009 however charges are still levied at the Royal Infirmaries in Edinburgh and Glasgow and Ninewells Hospital in Dundee as a result of PFI deals signed under previous Labour administrations.Commenting, Dr McKee said: "It beggars belief that Paul Martin is now calling for an end to these parking charges - it was a Labour Government who introduced them!"By getting rid of car parking charges and phasing out prescription charges, the SNP have demonstrated a huge commitment to an NHS that is free."Sadly, as a result of PFI deals presided over by Labour Health Ministers between 1998 and 2002, the benefits of free car parking cannot be enjoyed by patients and NHS staff at the Royal Infirmaries in Edinburgh and Glasgow or Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and I struggle to see how Mr Martin's bill will change that unfortunate situation."The SNP has opposed PFI from the outset for this very reason. It lumbers hard working Scots with long term debt they do not want and ties them into contracts which continually tax the public for private profit."Research published yesterday found that if the replacement Forth Bridge was build using PFI as Scottish Labour suggest, a toll of £26 per journey would have to be charged. The SNP will fund the Bridge replacement using traditional procurement methods - giving Scotland the toll free bridge it needs, on time and on budget."The UK's total PFI debt is around £216bn. Figures buried in last year's Pre-Budget Report (PBR) revealed that the UK's PFI liability increased between the Budget in March and the PBR by £27.5bn - the biggest increase between reports ever. The situation is spiralling out of control."The parking charges in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee are a timely reminder that PFI is not a funding solution but a massive burden on the people of Scotland

The following PFI Car Parking deals were signed under the previous Labour administration:

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary - 25 years from January 2002,

Glasgow Royal Infirmary - 31 years from June 2004,

Ninewells Hospital, Dundee - 30 years from January 1998.