A CAMPAIGNING MP is stepping up his Westminster battles to tackle rip-off car park operators and ensure children do not go hungry during the school holidays.

Hyndburn and Haslingden’s Graham Jones has co-sponsored two Parliamentary bills on the subjects which are close to his political heart.

He is hoping backing East Yorkshire Tory Sir Greg Knight’s Private Member’s Bill to end the self-regulation of private car parking firms can bring about a change in the law.

Although his proposed new legislation came only 11th in the ballot for such legislation, the expected longer than usual Parliamentary Session means it could make it on to the Statute Book.

Sir Greg has taken up a campaign by Labour’s Mr Jones, who raised the issue in a special House of Commons debate in April.

He told a government minister he has received ‘dozens’ of complaints about over-zealous enforcement at car parks such as the Arndale shopping centre in Accrington.

Mr Jones highlighted the cases of Lisa Smith and Catherine Cheeseman, both from Accrington, who claimed unfair treatment over alleged infringements of rules at the Arndale carpark.

Mr Jones said: "I am also pleased to back Sir Greg Knight’s Bill to regulate rip-off car parking firms.

“This has long been a campaign that I have worked on, having seen first-hand how they rip-off motorists in

Haslingden and Hyndburn, and I hope that the government will take it up immediately."

The British Parking Association has said: “It is very easy to avoid parking enforcement: don’t park where you shouldn’t and pay when you should.”

He has also sponsored a 10 Minute Rule Bull being presented to the Commons In September by Birkenhead Labour MP Frank Field on ‘The Provision of Meals for Children’.

It calls on the government to make £100,000 worth of grants available to councils to put an end to three million children in the UK going hungry during the holidays without school meals.

Although former minister Mr Field’s Bill will highlight the issue it is unlikely to proceed beyond a 10 minute first reading debate.

Mr Jones said: “It is a national disgrace that kids are still going hungry during holidays.

“I’m glad the government has U-turned on its plans to scrap free school meals, but I believe more must be

done, kids must be fed during the holidays as well as term-time."