Orange Badge Scheme (Hansard, 20 July 1989)

§ Mr. Ashley
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage the £400 fine for the unauthorised use of the orange badge would have to be increased for the fine to have the same real value as it had when it was first introduced; and what has been the percentage increase in the general parking fine over this period.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The maximum fine for unauthorised use of the orange badge was set at level 3 on the standard scale in May 1984. The maximum fine for parking and waiting offences was also set at level 3 in May 1984. Since that time, the general index of retail prices has risen by 30 per cent.

§ Mr. Ashley
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will discuss with chief constables the possibility of improving the monitoring of the misuse of orange badges and penalising the offenders.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
A number of proposals for improvement of the orange badge scheme were announced on 25 April by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley). The implementation of these proposals should result in a significant reduction in opportunity for abuse of the scheme. The operation of the scheme will be carefully monitored and discussions held with chief police officers as necessary.

Asylum seekers in certain Western European countries and Canada by year of application 1984 to 1988

Number of persons

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 Total

Austria 7,200 6,700 8,700 11,400 15,700 49,700

Belgium 3,700 5,300 7,700 6,000 5,000 27,700

Canada 7,100 8,400 25,000 35,000 34,000 109,500

Denmark 4,300 8,700 9,300 2,100 4,700 29,100

France 15,900 25,800 23,400 24,800 31,000 120,900

Netherlands 2,600 5,700 5,900 14,000 7,500 35,700

Norway 300 900 2,700 8,600 6,600 19,100

Sweden 12,000 14,500 14,600 18,500 20,000 79,600

Switzerland 7,500 9,700 8,600 10,900 16,700 53,400

United Kingdom 3,900 5,400 4,800 5,200 5,100 24,400

West Germany 35,000 73,900 99,700 57,400 103,000 369,000

TOTAL 99,500 165,000 210,400 193,900 249,300 918,100

Information on the population of these countries is available from a number of published sources including the "United Nations Demographic Yearbook", a copy of which is in the Library.

Asylum seekers in certain Western European countries and Canada by year of application 1984 to 1988
Number of persons
	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	Total
Austria	7,200	6,700	8,700	11,400	15,700	49,700
Belgium	3,700	5,300	7,700	6,000	5,000	27,700
Canada	7,100	8,400	25,000	35,000	34,000	109,500
Denmark	4,300	8,700	9,300	2,100	4,700	29,100
France	15,900	25,800	23,400	24,800	31,000	120,900
Netherlands	2,600	5,700	5,900	14,000	7,500	35,700
Norway	300	900	2,700	8,600	6,600	19,100
Sweden	12,000	14,500	14,600	18,500	20,000	79,600
Switzerland	7,500	9,700	8,600	10,900	16,700	53,400
United Kingdom	3,900	5,400	4,800	5,200	5,100	24,400
West Germany	35,000	73,900	99,700	57,400	103,000	369,000
TOTAL	99,500	165,000	210,400	193,900	249,300	918,100
Information on the population of these countries is available from a number of published sources including the "United Nations Demographic Yearbook", a copy of which is in the Library.