Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 and come into force on 17th June 2011.

Amendment of Regulations

2.-(1) The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000(3) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation) in paragraph (1) in the definition of "disabled person" omit "more than 2 years old and".

(3) In regulation 4 (descriptions of disabled persons)-

(a)in paragraph (1)(b) for "2" substitute "3"; and

(b)after paragraph (2)(d) insert-

"(dd)has-

(i)received a lump sum benefit under article 15(1)(a) of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011(4) within tariff levels 1 to 8 (inclusive); and

(ii)been certified by the Secretary of State as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking;".

(4) In regulation 6 (fee for issue and period of issue of a badge) in paragraph (2)(a) for "second" substitute "third".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

A disabled person's badge (known as a "Blue Badge") enables the holder to benefit from a range of parking concessions and exemptions from certain charges which apply to other motorists. The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000 ("the Principal Regulations") make provision regarding the issue of the badges by local authorities. These Regulations amend the Principal Regulations.

These Regulations amend the description of persons to whom a disabled person's badge may be issued to include children between the ages of 2 and 3 who fall within either or both of the descriptions specified in regulation 4(3) of the Principal Regulations ("under 3's"). Regulation 4(3) of the Principal Regulations relates to the implications of certain medical conditions.

The Regulations also amend the description of persons to whom a disabled person's badge may be issued to include those in receipt of a specified benefit under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011 who have been certified by the Secretary of State as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that the under 3's amendment will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the Blue Badge Administration Division at the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR and is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk. (It concluded that there will be no effect on business and the voluntary sector.)