Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure that disabled people with assistance dogs are not discriminated against when using hotels.

In common with all businesses offering services to the public, hotels are required not to discriminate against their disabled customers and must make reasonable adjustments, such as permitting guide dogs. This duty is “anticipatory”, meaning that hotels, for example, should expect a proportion of their guests to be sight impaired and make appropriate arrangements - for example setting aside a “dog friendly” room for such guests. The failure of a hotel to make a reasonable adjustment would be unlawful under the Equality Act 2010 and would open the hotel up to legal action by the guide dog owner or their representative.

Before considering any legal action, a disabled person who may have been personally discriminated against because of a disability may contact The Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), the government helpline established to provide free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns. The EASS can be contacted via their website - http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/, by telephone on 0808 8000082 or text phone on 0808 8000084. The EASS has the ability to intervene on an individual’s behalf with a service provider to help resolve an issue. The EASS can also advise people who wish to take their complaint further on their options.