81. Commander Kerensasked the Minister of Transport if, in the interests of road safety, he will consult the London Transport Board with a view to allowing blind persons to be accompanied by their guide dogs on public transport.
§ Mr. MarplesI know that the London Transport Executive is as anxious as any of us to help the blind. But in certain circumstances there can be real practical difficulties in having even highly trained guide dogs on buses, particularly in the rush hour. I think it right therefore to leave ultimate discretion to the conductors, who will I am sure use it helpfully and wisely according to the circumstances. L.T.E. only last month particularly reminded staff having this discretion of the difficulties of the blind.