MP's Guide Dogs Bill Becomes Law                                                                                  

Neil Gerrard, MP for Walthamstow, has succeeded in getting his Private Member's Bill requiring licensed minicabs to carry guide dogs passed into law. "I am both delighted and surprised that I have managed to get so far with this Bill. Each year the only Private Members Bills that have any time specifically allotted in the Commons are those put forward by MPs who have won the annual ballot for such Bills. The procedure I used, which begins with a ten minute speech asking for permission to introduce a Bill is rarely successful. On average about one MP a year manages to get a Bill through by the route I had to use."

The passage of the Bill has been welcomed by guide dog owners who say it will make a huge difference to their lives.

The text of a press release from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association follows:

Discrimination by minicab drivers against blind and partially sighted people is set to be outlawed after the Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc) Bill received its Third Reading in the House of Lords this morning. The Bill went through unopposed after attracting cross-party support and the blessing of the Government. It now needs only Royal Assent – not withheld since 1707 – before becoming law and this is expected to be granted within the next few weeks.

The Bill was tabled by Neil Gerrard MP following years of guide dog owners being refused carriage by private hire (minicab) drivers, and the introduction in 2001 of Section 37 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which required licensed taxis (such as Black Cabs) to carry guide dogs. According to research, blind and partially sighted people use minicabs far more than taxis and the omission of minicabs from the DDA left the field wide open for continued discrimination.

Geraldine Peacock, chief executive of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, welcomed the Bill’s clearing of this final hurdle, saying:

"This Bill’s completion of its Parliamentary progress is wonderful news. For many years, guide dog owners have experienced discrimination by some minicab drivers which has caused embarrassment, frustration and disruption to family and business lives. This completely unacceptable situation is now at an end and if guide dog owners face this sort of discrimination in the future, they will be able to use the law to get redress."

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has been running an Access for All campaign over the last two years which has aimed for full access to the private hire trade. In that time, Guide Dogs has been able to encourage nearly 250 local councils to use their licensing powers to require minicabs to carry guide dogs with their owners. But a number of authorities declined to take action and the national situation remained patchy and unreliable.

After being approached by one of his constituents, Neil Gerrard MP (Labour, Walthamstow) tabled a Ten Minute Rule Bill, the Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc) Bill, aiming to highlight the issue of discrimination against guide dog owners. However, as the Bill progressed, it attracted increasing levels of support and, working with Guide Dogs, DEFRA and RNIB, Mr Gerrard went to great lengths to ensure that it was developed as a workable Bill. He was also able to ensure its extension to cover Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Speaking immediately after the Bill’s Third Reading in the House of Lords, Mr Gerrard said:

"I am delighted that the Bill is now set to become law and to give guide dog owners, and the owners of other assistance dogs, the legal protection from discrimination that they have a right to expect. We now look forward to the Government drafting the necessary regulations and bringing the law into effect at the earliest possible opportunity.

"I am grateful to Lord Ashley for steering the Bill through the Lords so skilfully and to colleagues from all parties who have supported the Bill throughout. Government support for the Bill has been extremely welcome and I am sure they will want to see it applied very soon."

Geraldine Peacock added:

"Since launching our Access for All campaign, many Members, from all parties, have expressed their support for an end to this form of discrimination. Whilst the majority of minicab drivers offer an excellent service to guide dog owners, a significant minority have refused to carry guide dogs and this has caused huge disruption to many people’s lives.

"The Bill which Neil Gerrard introduced, and which he and Lord Ashley have so skilfully piloted through both Houses, does not make a special case for guide dog owners, but gives them the same rights of access as the rest of us take for granted. Our thanks go to both Neil Gerrard and Lord Ashley, and to the very many politicians, from all parties, who have supported this Bill."

When enacted, the Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc) Bill will become Section 37a of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

November 2002

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