Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what stage they have reached in revising, with local authorities, the orange badge scheme and other arrangements allowing privileged parking for certain categories of disabled people using motor cars.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, a package of measures to improve the Orange Badge Scheme and to eliminate abuse was announced by my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 30th July. The introduction of a separate offence for misuse of an orange badge by able-bodied people, became operative earlier this week. The other changes include new regulations for the issue and use of badges, and further guidance for local authorities on the administration of the scheme generally. Interested organisations, including those representing the disabled, have recently been consulted on the draft regulations and we are now considering their responses.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that reply. Is he aware that reform is needed?—because the present schemes are being abused when cars, bearing badges, are parked in restricted zones although they are not at the time being used by disabled people. In new arrangements will the Government ensure, first, that the name of the disabled person is on every badge and, secondly, that all badges are easily removable and are only in place on the windscreen of a car when a disabled person is using that car? The interests of severely disabled people are now being damaged by an erosion of confidence in the parking system.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I agree with my noble friend and I can give him a "Yes" answer to both his questions. First, the name is and will be on the badge; secondly, there is an idea for the future that badges are removable in plastic containers.
§ Lord UnderhillMy Lords, I think that the noble Earl will appreciate that everyone in your Lordships' House welcomes the widest possible use of genuine disablement badges. The noble Earl mentioned that disablement organisations have been consulted about the proposals. Who has been consulted on behalf of those who will have to carry out the duty of preventing abuse?
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, the Minister of Transport has been trying to keep a balanced appreciation of this and, of course, the Ministry of Transport is in contact with local authorities and road users.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, on that same point, has it yet been decided whether police and traffic wardens can take action when they check and find that the person whose name is on the badge is not using the car?
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, yes, indeed, they can, and they can at the moment. As a result of the new regulations being drafted at the moment, we hope that this will be even easier for the police and wardens to do.
§ Baroness Macleod of BorveMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that there is disquiet in the country among the able-bodied people? In fact will the badge also carry an expiry date?—because that would catch a great number of people who are using the badges illegally.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I agree with my noble friend. I am fairly certain that that will be the case, but I shall check on it and make sure that her remarks are brought to the attention of the proper authority.