Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to reduce discrimination against disabled people in rural communities.

It is crucial that we ensure everyone is treated fairly when accessing services, so that they can thrive and reach their full potential.

Under the Equality Act 2010, businesses that provide goods and services to the public are required not to discriminate against disabled people regardless of location. The Act also places an anticipatory duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve access to premises/buildings and services so that disabled customers have the same access to goods and services and are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers including in rural areas. This duty is anticipatory, meaning that service providers are expected to foresee the requirements of disabled people and the reasonable adjustments that may have to be made for them. However, the Act recognises the need to strike a balance between the needs of disabled people and the interests of service providers. What is ‘reasonable’ will vary from one situation to another, depending on the circumstances of the case.

The Government is fully committed to the Equality Act 2010 and the protections it provides to people with disabilities across the country.