Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of deaf children have access to radio aids to help them communicate in their early years.

This information is not held centrally.

The Government recognises that early access to language support is essential to help children to learn and to thrive. It is vital that parents and carers who care for deaf and hearing impaired children and young people are supported to communicate with them.

In 2018 we announced new contracts worth more than £25 million to help provide children with special educational needs and disability – including those who are deaf or have a hearing impairment – access to excellent support.