To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether the Blue Badge application system will accept printed evidence, supplied by applicants, from Encompass rather than their GP.

Currently Blue Badge Unit will accept evidence, submitted by applicants, from any suitably qualified medical professional i.e. GPs, physiotherapists, chiropractors, consultants, specialist nurses, MacMillan or Marie Curie nurses, etc. Applicants sometimes send in copies of their medical notes which, in some cases, can suffice if they demonstrate clearly that the person applying has a permanent and substantial disability which means they cannot walk or that they have considerable difficulty walking. Given that the Encompass system is not yet available across all the Trust areas, the efficacy of evidence supplied by the system has yet to be evaluated.