Dear Constituent,
Thank you for your email about the work of the Guide Dogs charity and support for people with sight loss.
I have worked with Guide Dogs in the past, for example, undertaking a blindfolded journey on public transport and through a town centre on foot with a visually impaired constituent and her guide dog so that I could get a much better understanding of the challenges which people with sight loss face.
I have been pleased to learn of recent progress on the issues which people with sight loss and their guide dogs encounter, particularly in relation to public transport and ensuring equality of provision.
Everyone deserves to travel with comfort and dignity. That is why I value the use of guide dogs, which give people with disabilities the freedom and confidence to work and visit friends independently. There are already, as you are aware, strict laws against the discrimination of those who rely on guide dogs.
The Equality Act 2010 makes clear the duties of all people to permit guide dogs without any hindrance to most services, premises and vehicles. Failure to comply with this requirement can result in prosecution and a fine on conviction of up to £1,000.
The use of guide dogs is encouraged by the clear guidance which clarifies the rights of guide dog owners, and outlines the options available to those who have been discriminated against when using a guide dog. This includes the ability to report those who do not make reasonable adjustments to make a disabled person’s journey easier. Distinctive jackets for guide dogs to wear are available to help clearly identity them. It is also advised that any identification cards, if given, are carried by a person with disabilities to help ensure they are not discriminated against.
The Government’s Inclusive Transport Strategy - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-transport-strategy commits to enhancing disability equality and awareness training for transport staff, which will better equip them to safely and confidently assist those with mobility challenges, including for guide dog owners.
In 2018 the Department for Transport published an Inclusive Transport Strategy, which aims to see our transport system offering genuinely equal access for people with disabilities by 2030.
As part of delivering the strategy, the Government has committed to working with local authorities to improve street design and to ensure streetscapes are inclusive. This is in addition to guidance that the Department for Transport has issued for local authorities on street design, which advocates minimising street clutter.
I also appreciate that irresponsible pavement parking can cause real problems for those with sight loss and for those with assistance dogs. That is why the Department for Transport recently ran a consultation on potential solutions to the pavement parking issue. Options include giving local authorities civil enforcement powers to enforce against unnecessary obstruction of pavements, and introducing a London-style pavement parking ban across England. I look forward to the outcome of this consultation and will continue to monitor this issue closely.
Thank you for getting in touch.
Sincerely,
