The Transport Minister has published proposals to increase the reach of the Disabled Parking (Blue Badge) scheme to more people who need it.

Minister Rosie Winterton said: "The Blue Badge Scheme was designed to increase the mobility and independence of disabled people and today I am proposing that we extend its reach to help more people, including a greater number of parents who have to transport bulky medical equipment with their children and people with severe autism.

"The government is also determined to take action against those who forge, steal or fraudulently use a Badge. That is why I want to hear people's views about ways of making the Badge more secure and better ways of taking immediate action against Blue Badge cheats who steal, forge or use a Badge they are not entitled to."

She also launched a £500,000 fund, along with new guidance, to highlight good practice and help councils learn important lessons from one another. The proposals include:

• extending the reach of the scheme, for example, ensuring more parents of severely disabled children are eligible for a Badge
• giving parking attendants the power to confiscate on the spot Blue Badges that have been stolen, forged or are being fraudulently used
• improving the security of the badge design to prevent forgeries
• creating a system of national data sharing, to identify blue badge cheats

For more information visit: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_072210