Written question WQ93936
- Asked by
- Darren MillarConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 6 days
Question
What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that the people making decisions on blue badge applications have appropriate training to ensure consistent decision making across Wales?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
Local authorities are legally responsible for the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the Blue Badge Scheme. The Welsh Government has issued guidance to local authorities which recommends that they have clear desk instructions in place and that staff dealing with applications should attend the local authority’s disability and equality awareness training programme, which should include information on the social model of disability.
WG also fund the Independent Advisory Service (IAS) on blue badge, who specialise in functional mobility and provide advice and independent assessments if requested by local authorities.
To encourage consistency in decision making WG has issued a verification toolkit to local authorities across Wales, with good practice being shared through the local authority blue badge workgroup and through workshops with the IAS for those carrying out blue badge assessments.