Summary and Background
3.The Act amends the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 ("the 1995 Act") provides for the carriage of disabled people, accompanied by guide dogs, hearing dogs or other assistance dogs in licensed taxis without additional charge. This Act introduces similar duties upon the operators and drivers of private hire vehicles (PHVs) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to carry such dogs at no additional charge. For Scotland, the Act amends the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to secure similar duties.
4.The Act defines an assistance dog and provides both for exemptions from the duties for drivers with certain medical conditions and that a notice must be exhibited on the vehicle by exempt drivers.
