Changes in Benefits for Parking Labels for the Disabled

24 Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how will the Ministry ensure that those holding Class 1 Car Park Labels for Persons with Physical Disabilities but who are not using "bulky" mobility aids, yet with a genuine need for the use of accessible car park lots, will not be disadvantaged by the revisions to the scheme which will take effect in November 2017; (b) how does the Ministry intend to reduce abuses of the scheme; and (c) whether the Ministry will undertake a comprehensive review of the availability and provision of accessible car park lots with the Ministry of National Development.

25 Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry will review the eligibility criteria to grant car park labels for persons with disabilities so as to include not just wheelchair-bound drivers but also other drivers who need some form of physical support, such as walking aids.

26 Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the rationale behind the recent policy changes on parking label benefits for the disabled; (b) what are the top three concerns raised by those affected by the changes; and (c) what are the Ministry's responses to the concerns raised.

27 Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what percentage of disabled persons who no longer qualify under the new Class 1 car park label has purchased cars under LTA's Disabled Persons Scheme; and (b) over the past five years, how many drivers with Class 2 car park labels have been summoned for using handicap car park lots when not ferrying a person with disabilities.

Mr Desmond Lee: The Car Park Label Scheme (CPLS) was introduced in 1980 to assist drivers with physical disabilities in boarding and alighting from their vehicles. CPLS was extended in 1996 to include caregivers who drive passengers with physical disabilities. Drivers with the CPLS label can park in dedicated car park lots that are marked in blue with the accessible symbol of a person in a wheelchair.

There are two types of labels: (a) the Class 1 label is for drivers with physical disabilities; and (b) the Class 2 label is for passengers with physical disabilities.

The Class 1 label allows drivers with disability to park in accessible parking lots for as long as they need, with no time limit. The Class 2 label allows the caregiver-drivers to park in a designated lot for up to an hour, to assist their passenger with disability to board or alight. Thereafter, the vehicle must be shifted to a standard parking lot to free up the accessible lot to other eligible users.

Demand for accessible lots has been rising, and this increase will further accelerate with our ageing population. The number of new label holders has increased by almost 40% from 2012 to 2016, from 1,273 to 1,758.

To meet the needs of people with disability, Government agencies have been working on a range of measures. Let me highlight a few

First, we endeavour to provide adequate accessible parking lots.

(a) The provision of such lots is mandated under the 2013 Code on Accessibility. The code also requires the provision of accessible and sheltered drop-off points, with direct access to every block at residential estates.

(b) There are currently about 6,000 accessible lots across public car parks managed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the National Parks Board.

(c) Beyond what is provided for under the Code, HDB and URA have been putting in more accessible lots in areas where there is high demand, wherever this is feasible.

(d) The Building and Construction Authority is currently reviewing the Code, as part of its ongoing review on accessibility. This includes studying the availability and provision of accessible lots.

(e) Given our physical constraints, however, there will be a limit to how many more accessible lots we can have.

Second, agencies have moved to curb abuse and the indiscriminate use of accessible lots.

(a) This begins with education. The National Council of Social Service conducts ongoing public education and outreach to increase awareness about the appropriate use of accessible lots.

(b) Beyond education, stiffer penalties have been put in place since December 2015, to deter people who park indiscriminately in parking lots meant for people with disability.

(c) The composition fine for first-time offenders was increased from $50 to $200, and the penalty for repeat offenders was increased to up to $400.

(d) Miss Cheryl Chan asked about the number of persons who have been penalised for indiscriminate use of the lots.

Last year, enforcement agencies issued 2,200 summonses for misuse of accessible lots in public car parks. We do not have a breakdown on the number of summonses issued to Class 2 label holders, and the number issued to drivers without labels parking in the accessible lots. We are working closely with agencies to strengthen enforcement.

Third, we have put in schemes and programmes to make public and private transport more accessible to persons with disabilities.

(a) One example is the Public Transport Concession card that was introduced in 2014 to help defray the cost of transport for persons with disabilities.

(b) Another example is barrier-free access and the provision of lifts and ramps at Mass Rapid Transit stations and selected pedestrian overhead bridges.

(c) As of August this year, the Taxi Subsidy Scheme was enhanced to cover up to 80% of the cost of travel in taxis, including private hire cars, for work, school and, in addition, training, up from 50% support previously.

Fourth, we come to the revisions that we will make to CPLS from 1 November 2017.

(a) The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Ministry of National Development had consulted existing Class 1 and Class 2 label holders as well as voluntary welfare organisations, such as the Handicapped Welfare Association, Disabled Persons Association and Society for the Physically Disabled as part of the review of CPLS.

(b) The objective was to see how we could ensure that persons with disabilities, who require the use of accessible lots for boarding and alighting, can be better assured that these lots will be available when they need them.

(c) Beyond measures that I had outlined earlier regarding education, enforcement and making more accessible lots available, there was general agreement that we should reserve accessible lots for persons with disabilities who require the additional space to board and alight from their vehicles and are, therefore, more in need of such lots.

Hence, under the new eligibility criteria, car park labels will be issued to those who are medically certified as having physical disabilities and who require additional space to embark and disembark from their vehicles. These would include people using bulky mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, walking frames and lower-limb prostheses. In addition, those with medical conditions, such as muscular dystrophy, poliomyelitis and cerebral palsy, will be considered based on their conditions and needs. I would like to assure Members that MSF and SG Enable will exercise flexibility when applying the new eligibility criteria and look at the physical needs and condition of each applicant, even if they do not fully meet the default eligibility criteria.

Miss Cheryl Chan asked about the proportion of persons who will not qualify for the Class 1 labels and who had bought cars under the Disabled Persons Scheme (DPS). DPS is a financial scheme that supports persons with disabilities who are unable to use public transport and need to drive to work. Under DPS, eligible drivers with disabilities are exempted from paying premiums for the certificates of entitlement and the additional registration fee when they purchase a vehicle. There are around 165 persons in the DPS (81%) who also hold Class 1 labels. Not all DPS beneficiaries apply for CPLS as they may not require the additional space afforded by these accessible lots, for boarding and alighting from their vehicles. The two schemes, therefore, serve slightly different needs. Individuals on DPS do not, by default, also need a CPLS Class 1 label. That said, any CPLS renewal will take into consideration the applicant's current condition and mobility needs.