To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the level of abuse of the blue badge scheme, with particular reference to (a) the incidence of theft of blue badges, (b) misuse by people not entitled to have blue badges and (c) misuse by family members when the badge holder is not present. (142486)

The Department for Transport is working with the Home Office and local agencies to improve data collection and promote good practice in this area.

The Department is committed to tackling all Blue Badge misuse as signalled by a three month, strategic review of the scheme, which will report in September 2007. This will culminate in the production of a comprehensive Blue Badge Reform Strategy by April 2008.