§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will introduce a temporary blue badge scheme; and if he will make a statement. [50927]
(2) what plans he has to speed up the processing of applications for blue badges. [50926]
§ Ms KeebleThe administration of the blue badge scheme is the responsibility of individual local authorities. When they have received the information they require to process an application they should be expected to do so without delay.
A comprehensive review of the blue badge scheme is currently being undertaken by my Department, which will look at the administration of the scheme and will also consider the case for temporary badges. Consultation on a discussion paper, which was issued to the main stakeholders, including disability organisations and local authorities, ended recently. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC- our statutory advisers on the transport and mobility needs of disabled people) are considering responses and are due to report their recommendations to the Secretary of State around the end of this month. In the light of those recommendations we aim to decide on the way forward with the scheme over the summer.