Section 173 — Equality Act 2010: Interpretation

Interpretation 173 1 In this Chapter— “ accessibility requirements ” has the meaning given in section 167(5); “ assistance dog ” means—

a dog which has been trained to guide a blind person; a dog which has been trained to assist a deaf person; a dog which has been trained by a prescribed charity to assist a disabled person who has a disability that consists of epilepsy or otherwise affects the person's mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects; a dog of a prescribed category which has been trained to assist a disabled person who has a disability (other than one falling within paragraph (c)) of a prescribed kind; “ operator ”, in relation to a private hire vehicle— means a person who holds a licence under— section 55 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, section 3 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, or a provision of a local enactment equivalent to the provision mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) or (ii);

and in section 167A, also includes a person who holds a licence under Part I of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 in relation to the use of premises for the carrying on of a business which consists to any extent of the taking of bookings, by any means of communication, from members of the public for the hire of a private hire car licenced under section 10 of that Act; “private hire vehicle”— means a vehicle licensed under— section 48 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, section 7 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, or a provision of a local enactment equivalent to the provision mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) or (ii);

and in sections 164A to 167A, also includes a private hire car licensed under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982; “taxi”— means a vehicle which is licensed under section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 or section 6 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869, and in sections 162 and 164A to 167, also includes a taxi licensed under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, but does not include a vehicle drawn by a horse or other animal; “ taxi accessibility regulations ” has the meaning given by section 160(1).

2 A power to make regulations under paragraph (c) or (d) of the definition of “assistance dog” in subsection (1) is exercisable by the Secretary of State.