The Government is
implementing major reforms to crack down on drivers who abuse the
disabled parking system as part of the most comprehensive changes
to the Blue Badge scheme for 40 years, Transport Minister Norman
Baker announced today.
Blue Badges provide a vital lifeline to over 2.5 million disabled
people every year by prioritising key parking spaces close to
important services. However increasing levels of badge fraud mean
those who genuinely need to use these parking spaces often find
themselves displaced by people who do not. In addition, the
Government estimates that badge fraud is now costing the UK an
estimated £46m a year, and is giving Councils tough new powers to
tackle this growing issue.
There have been very few changes to the Blue Badge scheme since
it was introduced in the 1970s and the Government believes that it
is in need of modernisation.
The measures, which will start to come into force from April this
year, include:
Providing local authorities with an on-the-spot power to recover
badges that have been cancelled and misused;
Shared administration between authorities – including an online
application facility – resulting in faster renewals, reduced abuse
and operational efficiency savings of up to £20 million a year;
Wider use of independent mobility assessments to determine
eligibility, including where previously that assessment was
carried out by a GP; and support for this by giving local
authorities control of National Health Service spend on Blue Badge
assessments;
The replacement of handwritten badges with standard electronic
ones which are harder to alter and forge;
Extending the scheme to more disabled children under three years
of age and severely disabled Armed Forces personnel and veterans;
and removing residency requirements for disabled service personnel
and their families who are posted overseas on UK bases
In order to finance the improvements, the maximum fee for a badge
that local authorities can charge will rise from £2 to £10. This
is the first increase in cost for 30 years and the Government
believes that, in return, badge holders will benefit from less
abuse, improved accessibility and better customer services.
Transport Minister Norman Baker said:
"The Blue Badge Scheme makes a real difference to
millions of disabled people every day. However, it is clear that
it is in real need of modernisation after forty years without
major reform.
“Such are the high levels of fraud in the current system that 50%
of Blue Badge holders now find it difficult to get a parking space
and Blue Badge fraud is estimated to cost £46m a year.
“The changes I am announcing today will crack down on Blue Badge
misuse, modernise the system and extend eligibility to other
groups such as more disabled children under three and severely
disabled war veterans and service personnel. These improvements
will mean that Blue Badge holders get a much better service for
less than 1p per day.”
Dai Powell OBE, Chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory
Committee (DPTAC) said:
"These proposals can bring us one step nearer to a
fairer and more consistently applied scheme. DPTAC hope to
continue working closely with the Department as it implements
these measures to ensure they lead to better outcomes for disabled people."
Helen Dolphin, DPTAC Member and Director of Policy and Campaigns
at Mobilise said:
"We are pleased DfT have addressed some of the anomalies
providing greater clarity to those who administer the scheme. One
of the major criticisms has been the extent of regional variation
in the administration. We hope local authorities will recognise
the benefits these measures will offer in support of a consistent
and uniform approach."
Notes to Editors
1. There are 2.55 million badge holders in England and demand is
rising significantly in line with the average age of the
population. Current levels of abuse are high as the financial
benefits of having a badge are significant. Consultations with
disabled people, local authorities and other stakeholders have
demonstrated a large amount of support for changes to be made to
ensure the long term sustainability of the scheme for those who
rely on it the most. This includes reforms that will help to
ensure a fair allocation of badges, deliver efficiency savings and
improve customer services and to tackle and reduce current levels
of abuse.
2. The reforms being announced can be found here: http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/bluebadge/reform/
3. A decision has been deferred until later in the year on
whether or not to extend eligibility for a badge to people with
temporary disabilities lasting at least one year, pending the
outcome of independent research into the likely impacts on
existing holders and local authorities.
4. Many of the changes will be implemented within a year. The
reforms that involve changing primary legislation will take longer
as they will depend on the availability of Parliamentary time. A
full impact assessment has been prepared which details the costs
and benefits of the above reforms. This shows an overall net
benefit for local authorities and no costs to the private sector.
5. Also being published today is a summary of responses to a
consultation that ran between March and July 2010. This can be
found at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/bluebadge/reform/
6. The consultation covers England only as the Blue Badge scheme
is a devolved matter. The National Fraud Authority estimates Blue
Badge fraud to be costing an estimated £46 million per year. Their
report can be found at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk/nfa/WhatAreWeSaying/Documents/AFI%202011.pdf
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