Can't Hear, Can't Benefit Report

HL Deb 20 November 2001 vol 628 c127WA

Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consideration they have given to the findings of the report from the Royal National Institute for the Deaf entitled Can't Hear, Can't Benefit; what response they will make to the report; and whether they will take any action. [HL978]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham

We have noted the issues and concerns raised by the RNID in this report. On 19 October, the President of the Appeals Service and a number of senior officials from the Department for Work and Pensions attended by invitation the RNID's Breaking The Sound Barrier Conference. They took part in a session on theCan't Hear, Can't Benefit report and discussed many aspects of it with delegates. Follow-up action is being taken forward through a meeting between the department and the RNID.