Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the use of the term non-physical to refer to people with hidden disabilities in the new Blue Badge guidance on the well-being of people with (a) myalgic encephalomyelitis and (b) Parkinson's disease.

The Department recognises the sensitivities with using certain terminology when referring to the new criteria and will be replacing the term non-physical disability with “non-visible (‘hidden’) condition” in the guidance.

The new criteria include people who are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty when walking, are at risk of serious harm to their health or safety or are unable to undertake a journey without it causing very considerable psychological distress. People with conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis, or Parkinson’s disease, may qualify for a badge if they meet these criteria.