Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to improve the enforcement of regulations against the discrimination of guide dogs and their owners by taxis and private hire vehicle operators.

Under the Equality Act 2010 it is illegal for the driver of a taxi or private hire vehicle to refuse to carry an assistance dog unless they hold a medical exemptions certificates issued by the local licensing authority. It is unacceptable that some drivers continue to discriminate in this way and I am determined that this practice must stop.

Guidance has previously been issued to licensing authorities to support their implementation of these legal protections, and we are currently reviewing Best Practice Guidance to strengthen the recommendations relating to taxi and PHV accessibility more generally.

I am clear that the local licensing authorities should play their part in eradicating such harmful discrimination.