§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assistance and advice his Department is giving to increase the provision in public buildings of induction loops for the hearing impaired; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Disabled Persons Act 1981 requires local planning authorities, when granting planning permission, to draw the attention of developers of public buildings to the British Standards Institution Code of Practice for Access for the Disabled to Buildings (BS 5810: 1979). This recommends the installation of an induction loop in various such buildings. In April 1982 the Department, on behalf of those Departments with the relevant responsibilities, issued guidance on the implementation of the Act. This stressed the importance of reference to the code of practice when considering provision of facilities for disabled people.