The Disabled: Parking Scheme Changes (Hansard, 3 December 1991)

Earl Howe
My Lords, the Government have announced the decision to proceed with a package of measures designed to improve the orange badge scheme. The main changes will be to introduce a new passport-style badge; to give automatic entitlement for a badge to those in receipt of war pensions' mobility supplement; to extend eligibility to certain people with very severe upper limb disabilities; and to increase from two to three hours the limit on yellow 95 line waiting. The regulations to implement those changes will be laid shortly. The new scheme will come into effect on 2nd March 1992.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for giving that up-to-date report which shows that the scheme is not being held up. Does he agree that the new scheme has been accepted by virtually all those most concerned as being more helpful to individual disabled people than the orange badge scheme and less open to abuse by other people?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I agree with my noble friend that the new scheme contains distinct improvements. I have here a prototype of the new badge. On it appears not only a hologram but a space on the inside, which will not be visible from the outside of a vehicle, for a photograph. That photograph will provide a real deterrent against abuse and will enable police officers and traffic wardens to verify cases of abuse more easily.

§ Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone
My Lords, I must declare an interest, being the holder of such a badge. Will my noble friend tell me what steps a holder of such a badge must take in order to switch from the existing scheme to the new scheme in March?

Earl Howe
My Lords, the intention is for existing badges to run until expiry. At that time it will be open to holders of a badge to apply for a new one.

§ Baroness Flather
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that certain London boroughs do not allow orange badge holders to park on yellow lines? Such a restriction makes it difficult for out-of-town disabled people to come into London when their only means of transport is their own owner driven vehicle. Will that restriction be affected by the new scheme?

Earl Howe
My Lords, the central London boroughs have particular problems of traffic congestion which make it impractical to adopt the orange badge scheme on a full-blooded basis. However, the granting of some form of parking concessions for disabled people in central London is currently the subject of a separate series of meetings between the Department of Transport, the authorities and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. We hope to reach a conclusion early in the New Year.

§ Lord Donaldson of Kingsbridge
My Lords, can one qualify for the badge on grounds of age alone?

Earl Howe
My Lords, no.

§ Baroness Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe
My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that one of the worst abuses of the scheme is that no one seems to check whether unauthorised people are parking on the disabled persons' reserved places? I must declare an interest because I hold a badge. There are always vehicles on spaces where disabled people can park, largely lorries and vans, but no one appears to take notice of them. Is he further aware that in central London the spaces for disabled people to park have been suspended for the duration of the Christmas holidays, which makes 96 Christmas shopping extremely difficult for the disabled? Why should that small number of spaces be removed for the whole of the Christmas period?

Earl Howe
My Lords, the central London boroughs have particular problems with traffic congestion. Nevertheless I shall ensure that the remarks of the noble Baroness are brought to the attention of my colleagues in the discussions to which I referred.
With regard to cracking down on abuse, police and traffic wardens take action in appropriate cases where they can. However, the difficulty is one of verification. The new scheme makes verification a great deal easier, and holders of the cards should in turn be deterred from allowing any misuse.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, in view of the widespread acceptance of the new scheme and the inclusion of a photograph, does the Minister agree that there should be strict enforcement of the new scheme? When we have discussed various aspects of road traffic law we have emphasised time and again that there is little point in having new laws unless they are enforced. Will the Government pay special attention to ensure that the police, traffic wardens and/or parking attendants carry out the law?
We welcome any move to assist disabled persons who at present are exempted from parking in the four London boroughs. It will be vital for those disabled persons to be able to move around London when they visit.

Earl Howe
My Lords, I share the noble Lord's last sentiment. We are doing all that we can in that regard.
Whether police powers should be increased in some way is a difficult matter. The Government are considering measures which would give police powers to demand inspection of the orange badge, a power which they do not currently have. However, we feel that for the time being their powers are sufficient.

§ Lord Stallard
My Lords, will the noble Earl enlarge on a previous reply? In what way does the suspension of disabled persons' parking spaces help the problems of the inner London boroughs?

Earl Howe
My Lords, that question is best addressed to the boroughs themselves.

§ Lord Stallard
My Lords, the noble Earl mentioned that such spaces were suspended because the boroughs have problems. I ask what problems will be helped by the suspension?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I believe that is a question for the boroughs. I mentioned it because it is up to the boroughs to decide how they manage their parking spaces. Although I understand the relevance of the point which the noble Lord makes, I cannot answer for the boroughs.

§ Lord Glenamara
My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that there is a whole lot of the United Kingdom outside London? Is he aware that some of the most difficult places in which to park are small country towns? Will he ensure that there are sufficient parking spaces in such places for the disabled?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I was aware of the first point. I believe that one of the main problems to which the noble Lord may refer is pedestrianised precincts. I recognise that pedestrianised areas in some town centres cause difficulties for disabled people. The Department of Transport issues guidance to local authorities encouraging them to consult disabled organisations and to take account of the needs of disabled people, in particular in town centres. However, ultimately it is a local authority matter. There is no obligation on them to give the vehicles of disabled persons unrestricted access to pedestrian areas.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, with regard to the question raised by the noble Lord, Lord Glenamara, will my noble friend agree that one of the great successes of the 1970 Act—of which I was one of the sponsors in another place—was that it brought in a system where local authorities throughout the country, including Scotland, were able to issue orange badges which were then accepted everywhere in the country?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I fully agree with my noble friend.