Meeting of the Parliament 19 August 2014
I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Disabled Persons’ Parking Badges (Scotland) Bill at stage 3, and I congratulate Dennis Robertson on the progress that he has made so far. I know how much hard work goes into a member’s bill and I know how hard Mr Robertson must have worked, even with Government support, to get to this stage. I hope that his hard work is paid off with the passing of the bill. I am sure that it will be, since Labour is supportive and Labour members will be voting in support of the bill at decision time.
We welcome the bill’s main objective to protect the rights of blue badge holders. We recognise that misuse of blue badges must be tackled because it can lead to blue badge holders not being able to access a parking space when they need it—and they need those spaces more than anyone else—and to a reduction in revenue for local authorities. Misuse also contributes to a public feeling of animosity towards badge holders when people see blue badges being used fraudulently.
We continue to seek assurances from the Scottish Government that it will work with its multi-agency group to ensure that blue badge holders are properly educated on how their badges can be used so that disabled people who inadvertently misuse their badges are not penalised by the bill’s provisions. I welcome the minister’s comments on the advice and guidance that will be given to genuine blue badge users.
We look to see that local government in Scotland will be properly supported and financially resourced to implement the bill’s provisions, in particular in relation to enforcement. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities is relaxed on the financial impact of the review of provisions and it is comfortable with those measures.