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<p>The House of Commons provides a range of British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation
services for visitors to the Palace of Westminster and currently holds the Action
on Hearing Loss ‘Louder than Words’ charter mark, which is re-accredited every three
years.</p><p>Visitors on a commercial, ticketed tour can choose a BSL self-guided
option which has been tested and approved by a range of deaf groups.</p><p>Visitors
on a democratic access tour can also choose a BSL self-guided option, although in
most cases a BSL signer would be booked and made available. The bicameral Visitor
Services team has booked 35 BSL interpreters for visitors attending tours or watching
parliamentary business, such as select committees, since the start of 2018. BSL interpretation
can also be provided for visiting schools, although in most cases the schools themselves
will bring their own interpreter.</p><p>The House is investigating the provision of
a basic level of BSL training across the Visitor Services team. Training staff to
a sufficiently high level of expertise to lead or interpret tours or other visiting
activities has to date proved difficult due to the level and duration of training
required combined with the frequency of staff turnover. The Restoration and Renewal
of the Palace of Westminster is expected to provide an opportunity for wider improvements
in relation to accessibility and inclusion, including interpretation.</p>
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