The Blue Badge Scheme (the Scheme) provides a range of parking concessions to disabled people.
In February 2007, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced a strategic review of the Scheme. An independent consultant, Rob Smith, was commissioned to conduct the review through a mixture of desk based research and stakeholder interviews. The review examined the Scheme's eligibility, concessions, administration and enforcement in light of the many social, political, environmental and technological changes that have occurred since the Scheme was first introduced in 1971.
DfT has published a draft response to the independent strategic review of the Blue Badge Scheme (at Annex A). This document is intended to provide the foundations of our forthcoming Comprehensive Blue Badge Reform Strategy which is due for publication in spring 2008.
The Government is keen to use the time between January and spring 2008 to engage with the public and its stakeholders in developing this strategy.
In order to engage as wide a range of opinions as possible, the consultation questions provided (at Annex B) of this document will form an important part in our evidence gathering and future decision making. Background information (at Annex C) and a set of impact assessments also accompany this document to enable the reader to engage meaningfully in this process.
The consultation period began on 24 January 2008 and will run until Thursday 17th April 2008, please ensure that your response reaches us by that date. If you would like further copies of this consultation document it can be found at www.dft.gov.uk/consultations or you can contact Tasha Duggan at the address below.
Please send consultation responses to:
Ella Roberts
The Department for Transport, Great Minister House, 76
Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR
Phone number: 0207 944 4780
Fax number: 0207 944 6102
Email address:
bluebadgeconsultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Please state whether you are responding as an individual or representing the views of an organisation, when responding to the consultation. If responding on behalf of a larger organisation please make it clear who the organisation represents, and where applicable, how the views of members were assembled.
A list of those consulted is attached at Annex D. If you have any suggestions of others who may wish to be involved in this process please contact us.
The information you send us may need to be passed to colleagues within DfT and published in a summary of responses received in response to this consultation (along with a response from the Government). We will assume that you are content for us to do this, and that if you are replying by e-mail, your consent overrides any confidentiality disclaimer that is generated by your organisation's IT system, unless you specifically include a request to the contrary in the main text of your submission to us. Please ensure that if you want your name or response to be kept confidential, you state this clearly in your response. (Confidential responses will be included in any statistical summary of numbers of comments received and views expressed.)
The Government has published a draft response to the independent strategic review of the Blue Badge Scheme. The draft response (at Annex A) is intended to provide the foundations of our forthcoming Comprehensive Blue Badge Reform Strategy, which is due for publication in spring 2008.
These are provided at Annex B.
A summary of responses, including the next steps, will be published within three months of the consultation closing date on www.dft.gov.uk/consultations. Paper copies will be available on request.
If you still have any further questions regarding this consultation please contact;
Name: Tasha Duggan
Address: Zone 4/23 Great Minister House, 76
Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR
Phone number: 0207 944 3968
Fax number: 0207 944 6102
Email address:
bluebadgeconsultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk
A set of three impact assessments accompanies this document. When responding to the consultation please comment on the analysis of costs and benefits, giving supporting evidence wherever possible.
Please also suggest any alternative methods for reaching the objective and highlight any possible unintended consequences of the policy, and practical enforcement or implementation issues.
The consultation is being conducted in line with the Code of Practice on Consultation. The criteria are listed below:
A full version of the code of practice is available on the Cabinet Office website at:
http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/consultation/code.asp
If you consider that this consultation does not comply with the criteria or have comments about the consultation process please contact:
Name: Andrew Price
Address: Zone 4/13 Great Minster House, 76
Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR
Phone number: 0207 944 3709
Email address: Consultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk
A list of those consulted is provided (at Annex D). This consultation has also been publicised in the media and is available on DfT's website.