Disabled Parking Permits

HC Deb 07 July 2003 vol 408 cc561-2W

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 10 June 2003,Official Report, columns 736–37W, on disabled parking permits, when he will take forward the recommendations received on the Blue Badge Scheme; and what enforcement measures he proposes to take. [123818]

Mr. McNulty

We are committed to introducing a specific power for the police, traffic wardens and local authority parking enforcement officers to inspect badges. We are also looking at the feasibility of establishing a national database of badge holders; the introduction of smartcard technology; increasing penalties for abuse and misuse of the Scheme.

The power to inspect, and a number of other measures, will need to be introduced through primary legislation and we are looking for a suitable legislative opportunity to do so. Meanwhile, we are already working on the changes that require secondary legislation, taking forward a number of research projects and drafting new guidance for local authorities to accompany the changes. We aim to implement the changes at the earliest opportunity.