§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about investment in housing for disabled people; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonA small number of local authorities have made such representations in recent months in the context of housing capital allocations for 1991–92, and these were taken into account when decisions on final allocations were made in March. The Government have made gross housing capital allocations to local authorities for 1991–92 of £452.;5 million on the HRA block for investment in authorities' own housing stock and £111.1 million on the non-HRA block for investment in private sector housing. It is for local authorities to make decisions on investment in housing for disabled people, in the light of local priorities and the resources available.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is taking to improve transport for people with disabilities in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Scottish Office works closely with the Department of Transport's disability unit to ensure that public transport is easier to use and that personal mobility is increased for disabled people. We have made a grant of £20,000 available to Disability Scotland to enable it to run a mobility roadshow in Scotland, at the Ingliston exhibition centre from 20 to 22 September 1991. This will be the first event of its kind in Scotland, and will be modelled on the biennial event held at Crowthorne, Berkshire. It will assist disabled people in Scotland to make informed choices on the vehicles, equipment and mobility aids best suited to their requirements.
A Scottish Office official acts as an observer on the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, the statutory committee set up to advise the Government on transport and mobility matters relating to disabled people. Two of the 20 members of this committee are Scottish. The Scottish Office also has an observer on the access and mobility committee of Disability Scotland.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward proposals to confer on the police additional powers to prosecute those who abuse or illegally use orange badges intended only for the benefit of genuinely disabled people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIt is already an offence for an able-bodied person to use a parking place reserved for an orange badge holder on public roads or in a local authority off-street car park which has been designated by an order made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 207W 1984. It is also an offence for a non-badge-holder to display a badge on a vehicle which is parked illegally in circumstances where a badge holder would have been entitled to park. Both offences carry a maximum penalty of level 3 on the standard scale. However, in the light of comments made during debate on aspects of the orange badge scheme at the Committee stage of the Road Traffic Bill in another place, further consideration is being given to the introduction of an offence which would be committed by the display of an orange badge when the legitimate holder is not with the vehicle.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to launch a public campaign to discourage the abuse of parking in areas designated for(a) the specific use of disabled people and (b) the exclusive use of disabled people in possession of orange badges.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe regulations relating to the orange badge scheme of parking concessions have been the subject of a major review. The abuse of parking areas designated for orange badge holders was among the matters considered in the review. Appropriate publicity will be arranged when amending regulations are introduced to advise the public of the changes to the scheme and of the importance of respecting the concessions on parking for the disabled.