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<p>The services of assistance dogs are provided by a number of UK charities and private
sector organisations, including owner trainers, some of whom are accredited by international
bodies. The Department for Work and Pensions does not offer financial support or raise
awareness for this sector.</p><p> </p><p>As the Government does not directly deliver
these services, it does not centrally collect data estimating the prevalence of need
for assistance dogs, or record the numbers who have access to one.</p><p>The services
and standards of assistance dogs are currently and historically maintained on the
basis of a voluntary regulatory framework. There is no specific legislation for the
regulation of assistance dogs and no legislation is planned.</p><p>Assistance dogs
must be allowed access to premises and services as a reasonable adjustment under the
Equality Act 2010. There is also an obligation on service providers to ensure that
staff receive disability awareness training. Guidance for service providers on their
duties and responsibilities already exists and is available from both the Gov.uk website
and from the EHRC – for example:</p><p><a href="https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/assistance-dogs-guide-all-businesses"
target="_blank">https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/assistance-dogs-guide-all-businesses</a></p><p>The
Government continues to encourage service providers to do their utmost to provide
the fullest possible access for disabled people.</p><p>Officials at the Office for
Disability Issues (part of my Ministerial portfolio) initiated and helped convene
different members of the assistance dogs sector to look at access, quality and supply
issues for assistance dogs, with a view to creating a UK standard. This work is currently
being considered by the assistance dogs sector who are responsible for agreeing and
implementing this standard.</p>
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