Blue Badge freedom of information request
Blue Badges are an essential support for people with Parkinson’s who travel by car or taxi and so it is important for us to understand how effectively the scheme works for our community.
We therefore ask that you provide responses to the following questions, as required by Freedom of Information Act 2000.
1. Firstly, please tell us which issuing authority's data you are providing. *
The application process
2. Which of the following types of Blue Badge application do you offer? (please select all that apply)
o Paper-based
o Over the phone
o Via our own online application form
o We refer applicants to the gov.uk 'Apply for or renew a Blue Badge' webpage
o In person
3. Do you provide support with applying for a Blue Badge? *
Mark only one
o Yes
o No
4. If you do provide support to people applying for a Blue Badge, how do you do this? (please select all that apply)
o Via instructions on our website
o Via a dedicated Blue Badge telephone helpline
o Via a generic helpline
o Via email
o In person
o Other
5. When is support with a Blue Badge application provided? (please select all that apply)
o At the beginning of the application process only
o At any point during the application process
o After rejecting an application
o Other
6. Do you provide information about what to expect at an independent mobility assessment? (Mark only one)
o Yes
o No
7. On average, how many weeks does it take to process Blue Badge applications on the basis of walking difficulty?
Mobility assessments
8. Are your Blue Badge mobility assessors regulated healthcare professionals? * Mark only one
o Yes
o No
9. What qualifications are your Blue Badge mobility assessors required to hold? * Tick all that apply
o An occupational therapy degree
o A physiotherapy degree
o A social work degree
o We do not require assessors to hold a specific qualification
o Other
10. In addition to any qualification held, what training are your Blue Badge mobility assessors required to undertake?
11. Are your Blue Badge mobility assessors inhouse or outsourced? * Mark only one
o Inhouse
o Outsourced
12. Do you allow friends, family or any other advocates to accompany applicants during their independent mobility assessment?
o Yes
o No
Blue Badge restrictions
13. Do you automatically renew Blue Badges where badge holders have an incurable, progressive, degenerative condition? Mark only one
o Yes
o No
14. Do you recognise and accept Blue Badges issued by other issuing authorities? * Mark only one
o Yes
o No
Blue Badge refusals
15. Do you have a process by which refused Blue Badge applicants can challenge a refusal? Mark only one
o Yes
o No
16. Please describe the process for challenging a Blue Badge refusal.
Do you collect data on Blue Badge applications received from people applying on the basis of walking difficulty?
17. Please tell us how frequently you collect this data * Mark only one
o We collect quarterly data skip to question 18
o We collect yearly data skip to question 59
o We do not collect this data skip to question 69
Please tell us the number of Blue Badge applications received from people applying on the basis of walking difficulty, for the following quarters:
18. Jan-Mar 2020
19. Apr-June 2020
20. July-Sept 2020
21. Oct-Dec 2020
22. Jan-Mar 2021
23. Apr-June 2021
24. July-Sept 2021
25. Oct-Dec 2021
26. Jan-Mar 2022
27. Apr-June 2022
28. July-Sept 2022
29. Oct-Dec 2022
30. Jan-Mar 2023
31. Jan-Mar 2023
32. Apr-June 2023
33. July-Sept 2023
34. Oct-Dec 2023
35. Jan-Mar 2024
36. Apr-June 2024
37. July-Sept 2024
38. Oct-Dec 2024
Please tell us the number of Blue Badge applications received from people applying on the basis of walking difficulty that were refused, for the following quarters:
39. Jan-Mar 2020
40. Apr-June 2020
41. July-Sept 2020
42. Oct-Dec 2020
43. Jan-Mar 2021
44. Apr-June 2021
45. July-Sept 2021
46. Oct-Dec 2021
47. Jan-Mar 2022
48. Apr-June 2022
49. July-Sept 2022
50. Oct-Dec 2022
51. Jan-Mar 2023
52. Apr-June 2023
53. July-Sept 2023
54. Oct-Dec 2023
55. Jan-Mar 2024
56. Apr-June 2024
57. July-Sept 2024
58. Oct-Dec 2024
Please tell us the number of Blue Badge applications received from people applying on the basis of walking difficulty, for the following years:
59. 2020
60. 2021
61. 2022
62. 2023
63. 2024
Please tell us the number of Blue Badge applications received from people applying on the basis of walking difficulty that were refused, for the following years:
64. 2020
65. 2021
66. 2022
67. 2023
68. 2024
Condition specific data
69. Do you collect and collate data on the number of people with Parkinson's who apply for a Blue Badge on the basis of walking difficulty? Mark only one
o Yes
o No
Advertising the Blue Badge scheme
70. Do you advertise the Blue Badge scheme?
o Yes
o No
71. If you do advertise, where do you advertise your Blue Badge scheme? (please select all that apply)
o On the homepage of your website
o On your website, but not on the homepage
o Via social media
o Via direct mailing
o Via displays in your o ces/other buildings
o Other
Thank you for taking the time to respond to this questionnaire.