 Tonia Antoniazzi, the Member of Parliament for Gower showed support for the rights of guide dog owners at an event in Parliament organised by the charity Guide Dogs.
Guide dogs are key for many people with sight loss to getting around independently, but research from the charity Guide Dogs has shown that 81% of guide dog owners have been turned away from shops, restaurants and others businesses because of their dogs. This discrimination can be humiliating and debilitating, with almost half of guide dog owners saying they have changed their plans or restrict visits to avoid being refused. Tonia Antoniazzi MP learnt more about the charity’s campaign to strengthen the law and requirements for training to prevent access refusals from happening in the first place. Commenting on the event, Tonia Antoniazzi MP said: "We must strengthen the law and improve training requirements to put an end to this unacceptable treatment. Guide dog owners deserve equal access and the freedom to live their lives without obstacles." Eleanor Briggs, Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns at Guide Dogs, said: “Guide dog owners deserve to be able to live the lives they want and feel confident, independent, and supported in the world. However, too many guide dog owners continue to face discrimination and are turned away because they have their guide dog with them. That’s why we are calling for action to strengthen the law to end this unacceptable discrimination.”  This afternoon Parliament will be debating the use of real bearskin hats by the Queen’s Guards after an e-petition on the subject garnered 106,362 signatures but unfortunately, I will not be able to speak in this afternoon’s debate.
Many constituents will be aware that ECOPEL has offered to supply the Ministry of Defence with its faux fur alternative free-of-charge until 2030. However, the Government has stated that its analysis of recent testing of this material showed it met only one of the five requirements it considers necessary to be a viable alternative and it has no plans to take it forward as a replacement for the bearskin used in these caps. It has further stated that its suppliers source pelts made available by the Canadian authorities following a licensed cull to manage the wild bear population, and that there are strict laws and regulations to protect against unlawful trade in black bears within Canada and internationally. I am supportive of our armed forces and I believe that as a country we should strive to set the highest animal welfare standards. As such I share the concerns about the use of bearskins by the military. No bear should be hunted or killed to order for use by the Ministry of Defence. Now is the time for the UK Government to conduct a review of the Queen’s Guard’s caps, examining contracts, looking at costs and assessing cruelty free, sustainable alternatives. A future Labour Government would ensure that any such review would speak to our troops and ensure their views are part of any future decisions. Furthermore, there is nothing currently in law to stop farmed fur from being imported and sold in the UK. I know that a majority of people in the UK support the banning of importing and selling animal fur in the UK. I do not think we should be complicit in this cruel and inhumane practice, and I believe that we should ban the importation of fur all together. There should not be a fur trade that relies upon the suffering of animals abroad. Many constituents have been in touch following the UK Government lifting its ban on the use of neonicotinoids for Sugar Beet Farmers. Here is what that means, and why this new ruling won't apply in Wales.  |
