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1464604

	registered interest
	date	19/05/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Alcoholic Drinks: Addictions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce (1) stigma, and (2) discrimination, of people with alcohol dependence.
	tabling member printed	Lord Carlile of Berriew
	uin	HL362
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2022 answer text <p>While the Government recognises the personal challenges faced by people with addictions or dependencies such as alcohol, we subscribe to the view of successive Governments since the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, that it is not appropriate to give such conditions protected status under discrimination law. Alcohol addiction or dependency therefore remains specifically excluded from the Act’s definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010.</p><p>Addiction and dependency can however sometimes cause a disability – for example lung or kidney failure – or be the result of a disability, for example a mental health condition. Where the addiction arises due to medically prescribed drugs or other medical treatment – for example an individual who has an addiction to painkillers because they are prescribed following an accident or surgery – protection may also be available under the Act. We believe that this offers the right balance between protecting individuals on the one hand and employers and service providers on the other.</p><p>There is a strong programme of work underway to address alcohol-related health harms and disparities, including an ambitious programme to establish specialist Alcohol Care Teams in hospitals and support children of alcohol dependent parents. The focus of the newly established Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is on improving the nation’s health and levelling up health disparities. This includes tackling alcohol-related health harms.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott grouped question UIN HL361 question first answered 24/05/2022 14:01:35 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
	tabling member	1138 label Biography information for Lord Carlile of Berriew

1175165

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2020
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to amend the Equality Act 2010 to give the same rights to owners of emotional support animals as those who own certified assistance animals.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Brady
	uin	HL609
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2020 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments for their disabled users and customers so that they are not disadvantaged compared with people who are not disabled. This requirement includes permitting access to assistance dogs where reasonable. If a person meets the Act’s definition of disability and has an emotional support animal to help them manage that disability, they should ask the service provider to consider allowing access to the animal.</p><p>Other than in relation to taxis, the Equality Act does not refer to assistance dogs or any other specific form of support or facility for disabled people, because each reasonable adjustment must be considered on its merits and in the context of the particular circumstances of the case. We therefore have no plans to include emotional support dogs in the Act, as this would be at odds with the basic and long-standing basis of the legislation.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 05/02/2020 11:36:15 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	4339 label Biography information for Baroness Brady

1056474

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals: Discrimination
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to strengthen the Equality Act 2010 to prevent fully the discrimination against, and the exclusion of, people with assistance dogs, in the form of denial of access to taxis and minicabs, shops and restaurants by those without health-related exemption certificates.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL13526
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2019 answer text <p>It is already illegal for taxi and Private Hire Vehicle drivers to refuse to carry an assistance dog or to charge their owner more for a journey. Local licensing authorities should ensure that drivers are aware of their duties, and that appropriate action, including prosecution, is taken where non-compliance is identified.</p><p> </p><p>There is also already a legal duty for service providers to provide reasonable adjustments to disabled people so that they are not put at a significant disadvantage compared to non-disabled people, which may include allowing access for assistance dogs where animals would not normally be permitted.</p><p> </p><p>The Office for Disability Issues has been facilitating the assistance dog sector to work together to look at access and supply issues, with a view to creating an accredited UK standard. This work is ongoing but if a standard can be achieved this should reduce the likelihood of access refusals.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 20/02/2019 16:58:22 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1464789

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Buildings: Disability
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to amend the Equalities Act 2010 to make it compulsory for “reasonable adjustments” to be made to the buildings open to the public which have no wheelchair access.
	tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
	uin	HL396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/06/2022 answer text <p>A full review of Part M of the Building Regulations is underway, relating to access to, and use of, buildings. It includes a research programme on the prevalence and demographics of impairment in England and ergonomic requirements of wheelchair users and experiences of disabled people. Evidence gathered will help government consider what changes can be made, including updates to statutory guidance. At present however, no change in the Equality Act 2010 of the sort mentioned in my Noble Friend’s question is envisaged. For service providers the reasonable adjustment duty in the Act is of course anticipatory, which means that those who provide services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require to ensure the disabled person does not experience a substantial disadvantage compared to their non-disabled counterparts.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott grouped question UIN HL397 question first answered 07/06/2022 14:01:57 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
	tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1464790

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Buildings: Disability
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they issue to businesses who do not currently have access through their main entrance for wheelchair users, including businesses which suggest access through other entrances and pubs, and restaurants that have access through kitchens; and how this guidance compares with access for persons with other protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
	tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
	uin	HL397
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/06/2022 answer text <p>A full review of Part M of the Building Regulations is underway, relating to access to, and use of, buildings. It includes a research programme on the prevalence and demographics of impairment in England and ergonomic requirements of wheelchair users and experiences of disabled people. Evidence gathered will help government consider what changes can be made, including updates to statutory guidance. At present however, no change in the Equality Act 2010 of the sort mentioned in my Noble Friend’s question is envisaged. For service providers the reasonable adjustment duty in the Act is of course anticipatory, which means that those who provide services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require to ensure the disabled person does not experience a substantial disadvantage compared to their non-disabled counterparts.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott grouped question UIN HL396 question first answered 07/06/2022 14:01:57 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
	tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1222186

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2020
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Business: Gender
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they have provided to businesses to facilitate an improved gender balance in the workplace since February.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Goudie
	uin	HL6626
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/07/2020 answer text <p>In recognition of the unprecedented uncertainty and pressure facing employers due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and to ease the burdens on business, the Government and the Equality and Human Rights Commission suspended enforcement of the gender pay gap reporting deadlines for 2019/20. However, employers can still choose to report their data and we have carried on providing support to those who need it. Over 5,500 employers have reported to date and more continue to do so.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge grouped question UIN HL6628 question first answered 30/07/2020 15:23:07 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
	tabling member	3575 label Biography information for Baroness Goudie

1669373

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2023
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Candidates: Disability
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to restore funding to enable parliamentary candidates with a disability to contest the general election on equal terms.
	tabling member printed	Lord Blunkett
	uin	HL208
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>This Government is committed to increasing representation of disabled people in elected office. Earlier this year, the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work wrote to political parties represented in the House of Commons to seek support in ensuring that disabled candidates and people in elected office have the support they require.</p><p>The Government has been clear that political parties have a responsibility to support disabled candidates.</p><p>The UK Government Disability Action Plan consultation did include a proposal to review funding of elected office support and explore the merits of a long-term funding solution. The responses to this consultation are currently being analysed with a response to be published in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gascoigne question first answered 27/11/2023 17:19:58 answering member 4986 label Biography information for Lord Gascoigne
	tabling member	395 label Biography information for Lord Blunkett

1490853

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Cars: Hire Services
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether car hire companies are legally permitted to refuse a car rental to a full licence holder on the basis of age.
	tabling member printed	Lord Soley
	uin	HL1939
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/08/2022 answer text <p>I refer the Noble Lord to my previous answer to question HL1125 of 4 July 2022.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 01/08/2022 14:24:40 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
	tabling member	160 label Biography information for Lord Soley

1548263

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Cars: Hire Services
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of car hire companies not accepting customers aged 75 years or over; and what steps they will take to ensure that older drivers are not unfairly discriminated against.
	tabling member printed	Lord Chadlington
	uin	HL3996
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2022 answer text <p>Such refusals would be potentially unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. This legislation provides that it is unlawful age discrimination for a service provider such as a car hire company to refuse, on age grounds, to lease a vehicle to an otherwise qualified person, unless the company can, when challenged, objectively justify its decision.</p><p>Where a company cannot, in those circumstances, show that their leasing age policy is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, the individual affected can bring a claim to the County Court, or Sheriff’s Court in Scotland. The court may determine whether the “objective justification test” has been satisfied, and may award costs and compensation if the claimant wins their case. A range of guidance is available to service providers on their obligations and to service users on their rights, most notably on the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s website: <a href="https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com" target="_blank">https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com</a>, and through the Equality and Advisory and Support Service (EASS). The EASS can be contacted via its website, <a href="http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com" target="_blank">http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com</a>, by telephone on 0808 800 0082 (or by text phone on 0808 800 0084).</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 16/12/2022 11:28:54 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
	tabling member	3318 label Biography information for Lord Chadlington

1668085

	registered interest
	date	07/11/2023
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Cars: Hire Services
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision by some car hire companies not to hire out cars to drivers aged 75 or over.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
	uin	HL33
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2023 answer text <p>Age discrimination in the provision of services is generally unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. There are, however, situations where a service provider can show that differential treatment between, for example, adults aged under and over 75 is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, which the 2010 Act permits.</p><p>Whilst the Government does not comment on particular cases, it is for individuals to consider whether they wish to take action where they feel they are being unlawfully treated on age grounds. Where a company cannot show that their leasing age policy is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, the individual affected can bring a claim to the County Court, or Sheriff’s Court in Scotland. The court may determine whether the “objective justification test” has been satisfied, and may award costs and compensation if the claimant wins their case.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Swinburne question first answered 23/11/2023 15:56:24 answering member 4985 label Biography information for Baroness Swinburne
	tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town