Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to renew automatically all blue badges during the COVID-19 pandemic; and what steps they have taken to ensure the continued provision of such badges.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Blue badges are valid for up to 3 years. The Department is currently working on its blue badge business continuity plan to ensure our digital and badge production services are resilient enough to continue to produce badges throughout this unprecedented period. Local authorities are responsible for the day to day administration of the scheme and will therefore be making their own arrangements for business continuity to ensure those in need of a badge can still be issued one. This may include pragmatic measures such as assessing applicants over the telephone, rather than face to face. In February 2020, over 75% of applicants applied online for a Badge.