Overview

This bill amends the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to update regulations concerning disabled parking badges in England, Wales, and Scotland. Key changes include clarifying the form of badges, establishing procedures for cancellation and return of badges, and strengthening enforcement measures.

Description

The bill makes several key changes to the existing law regarding disabled parking badges:

Badge Form and Issuance:

The bill removes ambiguity in the definition of a valid parking badge, specifying that the form must be defined or approved by the Secretary of State (England and Wales) or prescribed (Scotland).

Badge Cancellation and Return:

Local authorities (England and Wales) gain the power to cancel badges if the holder no longer possesses them (lost, stolen, or other reasons), requiring notification before the cancellation takes effect. The bill clarifies procedures for the return of invalid badges and introduces offenses for using invalid badges.

Enforcement:

The bill expands the powers of enforcement officers in England and Wales to retain badges suspected of misuse or invalidity. It also clarifies the process for appealing against a refusal to issue a badge or a requirement to return one, removing the appeal process for decisions made by local authorities in England.

Badges for Service Personnel Overseas:

The bill extends the provisions to cover disabled service personnel and their households residing in prescribed locations overseas, treating the Secretary of State as the equivalent of a local authority for this purpose.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify any changes to government spending. The costs associated with implementation (e.g., updating systems, training enforcement officers) would likely fall on local authorities and possibly the Department for Transport, but no figures are provided in the text.

Groups Affected

• Disabled Persons: The bill affects disabled individuals who hold or apply for disabled parking badges. Changes to badge issuance, cancellation, and enforcement directly impact their access to parking concessions.
• Local Authorities: Local authorities in England, Wales, and Scotland will have altered responsibilities in issuing, cancelling, and managing disabled parking badges. They will also bear the costs of implementing the changes.
• Enforcement Officers: Enforcement officers (particularly in England and Wales) will have expanded powers to retain and deal with potentially misused badges.
• Disabled Service Personnel Overseas: Disabled service personnel and their households stationed overseas in designated areas will now be eligible for badges under the amended legislation.

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