Question

To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the loop system in the House of Commons for people with hearing difficulties.

Since January 2018, Parliament’s Sound and Vision Contractor, NEP Bow Tie TV, have been conducting monthly checks with the support of the In-House Services Team on 69 assistive listening systems throughout the main rooms on the Parliamentary Estate to the current BS/IEC standards (BS8594 and 601884IEC). Prior to January 2018, these checks were carried out on an annual basis. A report is supplied each month to the contract owner, the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit, and the In-House Services Team and Diversity and Inclusion teams.

Independent audits are also conducted by Action on Hearing Loss.

In addition to monthly checks, a comprehensive, annual "Commissioning" test is carried out by NEP Bow Tie TV. This checks for Background Noise; Field Strength; Frequency Response; Live Listening; Live Signal; System Noise; Overspill; and Venue Accessibility.

Where high quality sound systems are installed, such as in the Chamber and in committee rooms, audio quality is generally good. However, a report by Wave Science Technology has highlighted that further improvements could be achieved in meeting rooms. The recommendations from the external audio consultant relating to assistive listening will be considered in January as part of an on-going review of audio/video provision in committee and other meeting rooms. This work has been undertaken by Parliament’s AV Programme which has been delivering other improvements to audio video systems across the Estate.