Blue Badge statistics: FOI release

Information requested

The numbers of Blue Badges held in Scotland, how many applications were submitted, and how many were granted and refused each year between January 2020 and December last year.

If you could also confirm the stats for the above between the start of January and the end of March this year it would be much appreciated.

Response

The number of Blue Badges held in Scotland are published annually in the Scottish Transport Statistics reports, with editions available from 2003 to 2024. The reports are available from Statistics | Scottish Transport Statistics - All editions | Transport Scotland. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy. The number of live Blue Badges in Scotland as of 7 April 2025 was 324,826.

The Department for Transport own the Blue Badge Digital Service, through which local authorities order badges. We do not request application numbers from them however do hold the following information on file:

The number of Blue Badge applications received by the Blue Badge Digital Service from Scotland from November to December 2023 was 15,954; from June to December 2024 was 75,581; and from January to March 2025 was 35,249.

You may therefore wish to contact the Department for Transport to request Blue Badge application numbers from Scotland out with the time periods provided above.

While our aim is to provide information wherever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide you with the numbers of Blue Badge applications refused. Transport Scotland is responsible for the national policy and legislation that governs the Blue Badge Scheme however the administration of the scheme, including the processing of applications, is the responsibility of individual local authorities.  You may therefore wish to contact individual local authorities who may be able to help you. A drop down menu of all Scottish local authority Blue Badge web pages can be found here: Apply for or renew a Blue Badge - mygov.scot.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.