Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps is he taking to ensure that assistance dog owners are not unlawfully refused entry to taxis and mini cabs.

Effective disability awareness training can help ensure that taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to provide passengers with appropriate assistance, so that they can travel independently and with confidence. This includes ensuring that drivers understand what is expected of them when carrying assistance dogs.

The Department wants every local licensing authority to require taxi and PHV drivers to complete disability awareness training and will make this clear in updated best practice guidance, due to be published for consultation later in the year. Licensing authorities should also do all they can to challenge inaccessibility, including ensuring that drivers who discriminate face prosecution and the loss of their taxi/PHV licence.

The Government also remains committed to introducing mandatory disability awareness training for taxi and PHV drivers through new National Minimum Standards for licensing authorities when Parliamentary time allows.