Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of whether Blue Badge mobility assessments are being carried out consistently across local authorities and different assessors; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that such assessments are undertaken consistently.

The Department introduced legislation in 2012 requiring mobility assessors to hold a professional qualification, which involves being trained in the assessment of a person’s ability to walk. The Department has assisted local authorities by providing detailed guidance - based on the advice of independent mobility experts - on factors that should be taken into account when determining an applicant’s eligibility. Ultimately it is the responsibility of each local authority to satisfy itself that an applicant meets the eligibility criteria set in law.