§ 60. Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Minister of Transport whether he will now introduce legislation to ensure that the distribution of orange badges for the disabled is carried out according to well-considered national criteria, and not subject to the criteria laid down by local authorities or chief constables.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThere are already national criteria for the issue of orange badges by local authorities set out in the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) Regulations 1975. We have recently consulted the interested organisations about changes in the criteria and are now considering the many views put to us.
§ Mr. Squireasked the Minister of Transport (1) if he intends to make allowance for the sufferers of agoraphobia in the proposals to amend the conditions under which the orange disabled person's badge is currently issued;
(2) what representations he has received from sufferers of agoraphobia who have difficulty in obtaining an orange disabled person's badge.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThree groups representing agoraphobics and six indi-590W viduals have made representations about the proposals.
The object of the proposed changes to the orange badge scheme is to concentrate the assistance provided on those with the greatest difficulty in walking and the blind; I am considering all representations, but I cannot hold out hopes that it will be extended to include other categories of disabled people.