Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a temporary blue badge scheme for those experiencing temporary disability as a result of illness or injury.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Blue Badge scheme is primarily about helping people with a long-term disability, that affects their capacity to access the goods and services they need to use. Anyone may be entitled to a badge if they meet the eligibility criteria.
The Department has issued local authorities with advice on how they could use existing powers to provide locally determined parking concessions within their areas. For example, some local authorities grant parking concessions to assist their elderly residents. The same powers could be used to help those with temporary disabilities. The guidance is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/people-with-severe-temporary-impairments-advice-to-local-authorities.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of train toilet provision on the Waterloo-Reading line.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Department officials work closely with South Western Railway to ensure that adequate toilet facilities are provided to passengers on trains and at stations wherever possible, and I will ensure that officials raise this matter with South Western Railway. I am pleased to say that South Western Railway will be introducing brand new Class 701 trains with fully accessibly toilets, and will continue to roll these out, including on the Waterloo to Reading line as soon as possible.