HC Deb 20 July 1989 vol 157 cc244-6W
Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will initiate a pilot survey to investigate the extent and nature of the abuse of the orange badge scheme;

(2) if he has made any estimate of the extent to which abuse of the orange badge scheme has contributed to any overloading and ineffectiveness of the scheme.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Any research into abuse of the orange badge scheme, no matter how carefully handled, could well be seen as questioning the parking concessions which many genuinely disabled people quite properly enjoy. That could spread unjustified alarm and lead to allegations of harassment of disabled people.

Advice from organisations representing disabled people and letters to the Department by members of the public show that abuse of the scheme is widely perceived to be a problem.

It is at present difficult for police and traffic wardens to spot misuse of orange badges by able-bodied people.

We have proposed that the orange badge should be redesigned in the form of a personal passport-type document. There would be space for a photograph of the holder. We believe that this will do much to deter abuse and aid enforcement.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it an offence for non-disabled drivers to display an orange badge whilst driving, unless the person to whom it was issued is in the car, and whilst parking, unless the car is being used to pick up or drop off the badge holder.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

It is already an offence for an able-bodied person to misuse an orange badge. The maximum penalty is £400.

We believe that our proposal to redesign the badge with space for a photograph of the holder will deter misuse.

We do not rule out further changes to the operation of the scheme should they be necessary to preserve its value to severely disabled people.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport approximately how many people now possessing an orange badge were awarded it at the discretion of the local authority; and what is the estimated number of these who would lose entitlement if the recommendations of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee were implemented.

Mr. Bottomley

Information on the criteria under which local authorities issue badges is not held centrally.

Soundings of a number of local authorities in 1986 suggested that about three quarters of badges were being issued under regulation 5(d) of the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) Regulations 1982.

We do not want to restrict badges only to those who receive mobility allowance. We propose to tighten the criterion in regulation 5(d). We shall consult widely on detailed proposals.

There is no proposal to withdraw existing badges. Our aim is to ensure that in future only severely disabled people who most need badges will qualify for them.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people currently receive mobility allowance; how many of them also have orange badges; and if any study has been made of the reasons why those with the mobility allowance who do not have the orange badge have not claimed it;

(2) if his Department has collected evidence on whether people without mobility allowance, who have an orange badge awarded under the discretionary powers of the local authority, might be eligible for mobility allowance were they to apply.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Some 580,000 people currently receive mobility allowance.

We have no reason to find out how many mobility allowance recipients hold orange badges; why those recipients without badges have not claimed them; or how many people with badges might be eligible for mobility allowance were they to apply.

We do not propose to restrict eligibility for orange badges only to those who receive mobility allowance.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received any advice regarding the maximum and minimum number of orange badges that would give a fair balance between the needs of severely disabled people and the requirement to have a scheme that is not so overloaded that it becomes unworkable.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Our proposals for the eligibility criteria are designed to ensure that people with severe mobility problems continue to qualify for a badge in accordance with the original aims of the scheme.

We have no quota or target in mind for the number of badges on issue. There will be no rationing of badges.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider the proposal that all applications for orange badges to be issued under the discretionary powers of local authorities should be accompanied by a medical note from a doctor who is not the applicant's personal general practitioner nor from the same practice.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The introduction of independent medical assessments was considered in the Department's 1986 consultation paper which looked at possible changes to the orange badge scheme. Opinions on this idea were divided.

We shall in due course be considering with interested bodies how eligibility criteria could be framed and how assessments could be handled.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if there has been any investigation of the contribution to the variation in the number of orange badges per capita issued by local authorities that is made by(a) variation in the local incidence of disability and (b) local authorities' differing interpretations of the guidelines.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The different issuing rates of certain comparable and neighbouring local authorities provide a strong indication that authorities do not apply the rules uniformly.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has regarding the proportion of the people receiving an orange badge issued by local authorities under their discretionary powers, who supply a medical note from their own general practitioner with their application; and what proportion are examined by or supply a note from a doctor who is not their own general practitioner.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

It is for local authorities to decide how to assess applications for orange badges.

This information is not held centrally.