DWP seeks evidence for market review

04 January 2016

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is seeking evidence for a review of the communication and language support market.

The Department today published the call for evidence. The deadline for submissions is 4 March 2016.

The review is being led by DWP but covers

• the whole of the UK;
• all forms of support that enable communication between deaf, deafblind and hearing people; and
• all settings, including education, employment, health and social care, the arts, and sport.

The review will seek to estimate current and future supply and demand in the UK, but international evidence is welcome. It will also consider the current and future impact of technology on the market, such as video relay services.

All interested organisations and individuals that have relevant information or experience are invited to make a submission. In particular, unpublished data and research are welcome.

Jim Edwards, chief executive of Signature, said: "This review is the welcome outcome of collaboration between DWP and the deaf sector over the past two years. It's great to see government departments and the UK Council on Deafness leading it together.

"The review will help us understand what we need to do to make sure deaf and deafblind people have equal access to all walks of life. I encourage anyone who has relevant evidence to send it to DWP."

If you have any questions about the review, please contact DWP via dhes.comment@dwp.gsi.gov.uk.

The questions

• What is the size and value of the demand for the different types of communication and language support in the UK?
  • How might this demand change in the future?
• What is the number of communication and language professionals nationally and the type and level of skills that are on offer?
  • How might this supply change in the future?
• What are the types of technology currently available that facilitate communication and the future developments in the pipeline?
• How might an increasing uptake of both current technology and new developments affect the market for communication and language services in the future?