Equal Opportunities Committee, 18 Sep 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 18, 2001

Official Report 78KB pdf

---

Guide Dog Week

Item 6 concerns a request from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to highlight the problem of access for people with guide dogs to restaurants, pubs and outlets that serve food. It costs £35,000 to train a guide dog to help blind people, so it is important that fundraising remains one of the main purposes of guide dog week; however, the association also wants to use the week to promote a voluntary code of practice for pubs and restaurants to be guide dog-friendly. Such a code involves knowing the best place in establishments for people with guide dogs to sit, providing water for the dog and so on. The association is asking the committee to become involved in an event at which MSPs would be blindfolded and, with the aid of a trainer, would walk guide dogs into the Parliament restaurant.

Does the committee endorse a voluntary code of practice that could be put together with the help of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and others?

Members indicated agreement.

Does the committee agree to support in principle the event, which is proposed for 4 October? Obviously, we would have to discuss the matter with the restaurant management and get enough MSPs—maybe four or five—to take part.

Perhaps it would be appropriate if you, as convener of the Equal Opportunities Committee, lodged a members' business motion on the issue to be debated during guide dog week.

I am glad that providing water for guide dogs was mentioned. I have discussed the matter with Anne McLean, who is mentioned in the association's letter to the committee. She pointed out that it is important that facilities other than access for the person and the guide dog are provided.

I am happy to lodge such a motion for that week.

If any members want to take part in the event, they should e-mail the clerks. A small amount of pre-training is necessary before the event can happen. Are members agreed to support the event in principle?

Members indicated agreement.

We now move into private session.

Meeting continued in private until 10:44.