Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 August 2014
19 Aug 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Disabled Persons’ Parking Badges (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I would not want to steal Dennis Robertson’s thunder—he might want to respond to those points—but some of those challenges have been dealt with in the most recent reforms to the blue badge scheme, whereby the security of both the database and the badge itself has been upgraded. I have said that we are in discussions with Police Scotland to allow the police to access the database. That should be the means by which we make sure that we get the system right, so that those who are challenging people are aware that a particular badge plainly does not belong to the person using it. The unique identifier that Dennis Robertson mentioned will help in that regard. Perhaps he will want to say more about that in his closing speech.
I am convinced that the changes that we have made recently and the ones that Dennis Robertson has proposed have bolstered a very secure system. The bottom line is that it should ensure that disabled people’s parking spaces—of course, the blue badge also gives people a wider discretion to park elsewhere—are used only by those who are parking there legitimately and who want and need to do so, and that we try to eradicate the practice of people using them who are not entitled to do so. If we do that, it will be a real achievement for Dennis Robertson’s bill.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-10783, in the name of Dennis Robertson, on the Disabled Persons’ Parking Badges (Scotland) Bill. 16:42
Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP)
SNP
It has been a great privilege for me to have been able to take forward the Disabled Persons’ Parking Badges (Scotland) Bill as a member’s bill. I would like ...
The Minister for Transport and Veterans (Keith Brown)
SNP
I am pleased to support Dennis Robertson and to commend him for the work that he has undertaken in developing the bill. I thank the Local Government and Re...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
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 th...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
Can local government officers enforce in places such as supermarket car parks or private car parks where there might be an abuse, or can they do so only in p...
Mark Griffin
Lab
My understanding is that private operators would need to come to some sort of agreement with local authorities or the police to enforce the provisions in a p...
Cameron Buchanan (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I should start by redeclaring an interest as a blue badge holder. As a blue badge holder and a fellow MSP, I reiterate my congratulations to Dennis Robertson...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Before we move on to the open debate, I am minded to accept a motion without notice on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau. Motion moved, That, under Rule 1...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Like others, I congratulate Dennis Robertson on bringing forward the bill, which I am sure is going to be successful at 17:50. As a bill, it is perhaps a re...
Anne McTaggart (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
As a member of the Local Government and Regeneration Committee, I have had ample opportunity to consider in detail the proposals in the bill and the subseque...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
I welcome the opportunity to participate in the final stage of the bill, and I congratulate Dennis Robertson on all his good work in bringing the bill this f...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
I pay tribute to Dennis Robertson for introducing the bill, which I hope will receive unanimous support. Like many other members, I realise that it is not al...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
I call Cameron Buchanan. You have a generous four minutes, Mr Buchanan. 17:26
Cameron Buchanan
Con
There are still many anomalies with blue badge parking that we need to consider. For example, holders sometimes have to pay parking fees and there is an issu...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I call Mark Griffin. You have an even more generous four minutes, Mr Griffin. 17:27
Mark Griffin
Lab
The debate has been relatively short, and that was certainly a short speech from Cameron Buchanan. Mine will not be quite so short. The debate has been cons...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I call the minister, Keith Brown, to wind up the debate on behalf of the Government. Minister, you have a very generous six minutes. 17:31
Keith Brown
SNP
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I thank members for an informed and interesting debate. There has been a degree of consensus—not entirely by acciden...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
The minister again mentioned the two working groups that are considering various aspects. Will the Parliament have an opportunity to consider and help improv...
Keith Brown
SNP
I am happy to give the undertaking that we will look into how best we can involve the Parliament in that process, not least because the Local Government and ...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Like the minister, I would like to see the demise of personal independence payments, which are really frightening some folk. I am pleased that the Scottish G...
Keith Brown
SNP
I am more than happy to consider that further. We have done a great deal of work, because we know how important the issue is. To put the matter in plain term...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Before the minister finishes, will he take an intervention?
Keith Brown
SNP
As long as it is not an application to be a non-uniformed officer.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Anything is possible with Mr Stevenson.
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Will the minister inform us a little bit about the enforcement process when badges are validated? We heard in the debate that the enforcement officer would r...
Keith Brown
SNP
I would not want to steal Dennis Robertson’s thunder—he might want to respond to those points—but some of those challenges have been dealt with in the most r...
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
I call Dennis Robertson to wind up the debate. Mr Robertson, you have eight minutes. 17:42
Dennis Robertson
SNP
In winding up, I first extend my sincere thanks to those who managed to speak during this short, but very important, debate. I also offer my genuine thanks t...