UK Council on Deafness

January 2005 Parliamentary Report

In this Report

• Audiology - Commons Written Answers (10 Jan 2005)
• Digital Hearing Aids - Commons Written Answers (11 Jan 2005)
• Disabled Air Passengers - Commons Written Answers (17 Jan 2005)
• Digital Hearing Aids - Commons Written Answers (17 Jan 2005)

Commons Written Answers (10 Jan 2005)
Audiology

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the number of individuals awaiting provision of digital hearing aids in the Province.

Angela Smith: The information requested is currently not available.

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Commons Written Answers (11 Jan 2005)
Digital Hearing Aids

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance the Department has given to NHS trusts on the priority for the provision of digital hearing aids to be given to those who are partially sighted.

Dr. Ladyman: Audiology services should develop their own priorities and guidelines for digital hearing aid assessments and fittings in consultation with primary care trusts and commissioners.

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Commons Written Answers (17 Jan 2005)
Disabled Air Passengers

Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport

(1) if he will make representations to the relevant bodies in the European Union to ensure consistency across Europe of the implementation of the recommended practices of the European Civil Aviation Conference in respect of disabled passengers, with particular reference to those who are deaf or who have impaired hearing; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will take measures to ensure consistency of implementation by UK airlines of his Department's Code of Practice regarding disabled passengers, with particular reference to those who are deaf or have impaired hearing.

Charlotte Atkins: Following the publication of the voluntary code "Access to Air Travel for Disabled People-Code of Practice", which we published in March 2003, we commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory to monitor the industry's take up of the code's recommendations. It is looking at compliance generally and not specifically in relation to any particular group of disabled people. The research is due to be completed towards the end of this year.

We have said that we will legislate in this field if the voluntary approach proves ineffective and the outcome of the research will be used to inform our decision.

The UK Chairs the European Civil Aviation Conference's (ECAC) Facilitation Working Group on air travel for people with reduced mobility. We work alongside other member states to promote the recommended practices which ECAC has introduced. On the domestic front the ECAC recommended practices were the basis for our Code of Practice. At a recent meeting of the ECAC Facilitation working group we raised a number of issues relating to air travel for deaf and hard or hearing people. The group has agreed to consider those and have included them on their agenda for their next meeting later this month.

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Commons Written Answers (17 Jan 2005)
Digital Hearing Aids

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) North Southwark and Bermondsey, (b) Camberwell and Peckham and (c) Dulwich and West Norwood are on waiting lists for digital hearing aids; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Ladyman: This information is not held centrally.

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