VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Hearing Impairment: Discrimination

Asked by Lee AndersonReform UKWomen and EqualitiesTabled Answered 16 March 2026UIN 116810

The question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to ensure people with hearing loss do not face discrimination in society.

Answered by Olivia Bailey

The Equality Act 2010 makes it clear that businesses and public bodies that provide goods and services to the public must not unlawfully discriminate against disabled people, including those who are deaf or have hearing impairments. The Act places an anticipatory duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve access to premises, buildings and services. The Act is clear that the failure by a service provider to make reasonable adjustments for a disabled person could amount to disability discrimination.

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