Inquiry into the blue badge (disabled parking) reform strategy
The House of Commons Transport Committee conducted a short inquiry into the Blue Badge Scheme in order to inform the Disabled Parking reform Strategy which the Government plans to publish in the late Spring.
The inquiry considered the following questions:
Should the Assessed Eligibility Criteria be changed and, if so, how?
Should the age at which children can qualify for a badge (either because of a specific medical condition or on the basis of the Assessed Eligibility Criteria) be changed?
Should people who are severely mentally impaired or who have extremely disruptive behavioural problems be able to qualify for a badge under the assessed eligibility criteria?
Should the minimum badge issue period be lowered from the current three years?
Should local authorities have more discretion to vary the yellow-line and on-street parking concessions (e.g. allowing badge holders to park without charge for more time in some areas and less in others depending on local traffic conditions and disabled access)?
Should the London Concession (the regulations that exempt the four central London boroughs from the national Blue Badge Scheme) be redrawn so that it is aligned with the London Congestion Charge Zone (recognising that the zone may alter in size)?
Are there any other changes which should be made to the concessions associated with a Blue badge?
What would be the likely impact of any proposed changes on the number of people holding badges, the availability of disabled parking spaces and on local government administration and costs?
House of Commons Transport Committee sixth report of session
The House of Commons Transport Committee sixth report of session contains the conclusions and recommendations of the inquiry, which include:
Adherence to the Guidance on the Blue Badge scheme is patchy. It is recommended that the Department engage with local government officers involved in the assessment of Blue Badge applications in order to establish what more could be done to promote consistent good practice.
The Minister should write directly to those authorities which still use GPs to carry our mobility assessments, drawing their attention to the aspect of the Guidance that calls for independent assessments (occupational therapists) of applicants’ mobility.
The minimum issue period for a badge should be reduced from three years to one, to include those with short-term or temporary disabilities.
In cases where a blue badge holder’s condition is unlikely to improve they should not usually have to undergo regular three-yearly assessments, but have their badge renewed automatically.
Eligibility for a blue badge should be based on mobility in a wider sense than simply on an applicant’s ability to walk. But the Government should also look to more appropriate ways of helping people with other disabilities, such as bowel disease.
Highway authorities should be given the power to extend the time-limit for Blue Badge-holders to park on single or double yellow lines in specified locations, but not to lower it below the current limit of three hours.
The Government should consider including central London, which currently has its own regime, in the national system.
The confiscation of a Blue Badge has the potential to impose significant hardship on the Badge-holder. If it is being used fraudulently by another person, this is manifestly unjust as it penalises a potentially vulnerable individual for an offence committed by another person, of which they might be entirely ignorant.
Civil enforcement officers be given the power to confiscate a Badge which has been reported lost or stolen and for which a replacement has been issued. If it is not practicable to seize the Badge—for example, because the vehicle is locked and unattended—they should have the power to immediately immobilise the vehicle or to have it removed to a pound so that the Badge can be confiscated when the owner comes to collect it.
"Smart card” technology should be developed so there could be even more flexibility over the issuing of badges.
Disability Alliance's response
Disability Alliance's response to the inquiry is now available and can be downloaded from the link below.
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