§ Mr. WhiteTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the European Commission's recommendation for a standard European parking badge for disabled people to be implemented in the UK; what is the proposed timing; and if conditions of use of the UK's existing Orange Badge will be affected. [64967]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonWe have decided that the EC's recommendation for a standard design of blue parking badge for disabled people will be implemented in the UK. In reaching our decision we consulted with our statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC).
The aim of this Recommendation is, of course, to have a standard design of blue parking badge to replace the parking cards or badges which are currently on issue in Member States, and to ensure that there is reciprocity across Member States in recognising the new badge. The EC's intention is to have these arrangements introduced by 1 January 2000.
The Recommendation does not affect the eligibility criteria applied by Member States, nor the parking privileges which the parking card affords disabled people in each Member State. These remain matters for national governments to determine. Parking badges will, therefore, retain their national status, but will be designed on the basis of the EC's model.
In this country, we plan to phase in the new blue badges as existing Orange Badges come up for renewal, or new applications are processed, over the 3 years from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2002.