§ Mr. Gregoryasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor passes for the disabled were issued in 1982 and 1983 to date (a) nationally and (b) in York; and how many prosecutions were undertaken for the abuse of use in these years.
§ Mrs. ChalkerDisabled persons' parking permits—orange badges — are issued by local authorities and records are not maintained centrally on a continuing basis. At the time of a national census on 1 January 1983, there were 682,000 valid badges in Great Britain. Information on the number of prosecutions is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Gregoryasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the information which is 87W required to be displayed on motor passes for disabled people in each European Community state, in the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand; what penalties, including monetary, expressed both in the original currency and sterling equivalent, are incurred for the illegal use of such passes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerPractice varies among those Community states who issue badges. Most require the name of the issuing authority, serial number, and often the disabled person's name. I have no information about requirements in countries outside Europe. The maximum penalty for misuse of badges in Britain is £200; I have no information on penalties elsewhere. The changes made to the British scheme earlier this year should do much to reduce abuse.