Blue Badge - Discretionary Criteria

Two years ago I made a Freedom of Information request with the Blue Badge Unit in Northern Ireland asking them to disclose the Discretionary Criteria for an award of the Blue Badge. The case went to the Information Commissioner and then General Regulatory Chamber who decided in my favour. The Department for Infrastructure provided the Assessment Guidance Notes and published same at https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/publications/dfi2019-0258-eir-request-copy-assessment-criteria-used-by-department-applications-blue-badge-which. The GRC have also published their Decision EA/2020/0308P and it can be found at http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKFTT/GRC/2021/2020_0308.html. I have attached a Document giving my thoughts on the Assessment Guidance Notes.

I appreciate that my request was particular to Northern Ireland but I do believe it has relevance in Great Britain. Ultimately, to refuse the initial request, was, in my view, discriminatory against the needs of disabled people. There is no reason why the Discretionary Criteria should not be in the public domain.