§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what progress has been made in the assessment of equipment which enables deaf people 338W to communicate using the ordinary telephone network; if he expects the Exeter University team to produce interim reports; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many items of equipment are being assessed by the Exeter University project into communications systems to enable deaf persons to communicate on the ordinary telephone network; what precautions are being taken to make sure that all possible items of equipment are investigated; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonThe Institute of Biometry and Community Medicine at Exeter University has made a study of existing telecommunications systems suitable for use by deaf people and a clinical and sociological study of a known population of deaf and hard of hearing people to assess their overall medical and social needs. The latter study is still in progress. The study of telecommunications systems is complete and we expect to receive the final report shortly. The institute examined various systems capable of operation over public telecommunications networks but did not undertake field trials and technical assessment of individual items of equipment. The project team decided on the field of study and I am advised that the report will give a broad outline of the systems, about six in all, which are either currently available or in an advanced state of development. It is not possible to 339W guarantee inclusion of every item of available equipment but to the best of the team's knowledge it considered all feasible methods of telecommunications for deaf people.