BBC2's "See Hear" features Epsom's Lib Dem Councillor David Buxton

3.10.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 20th Jun 2008

Councillor David Buxton who represents the residents of Court Ward

BBC2's magazine for deaf people, See Hear, interviewed Cllr David Buxton (Court) for Episode 7 of Series 28 which was transmitted on Wednesday 18th June.

Cllr Buxton is profoundly deaf and uses sign language interpreters for some council meetings. The programme interviewed several people on the subject of whether or not deaf people are disabled. Some expressed the view that deaf people are a linguistic minority rather than disabled. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is paid by government to disabled people and is not means tested : a controversial policy on which there were a range of views expressed.

Cllr Buxton said "Many deaf people use their DLA to pay their mortgage or go on holiday. This is an abuse of public funds. I know of someone who, having completed a DLA application form, began receiving the allowance at the mid to lower rate - he met no-one and was not interviewed. That worries me - there's no policing".

Liberal Democrats want to introduce a communications element to the provision of DLA. With communications getting easier in some respects, aids for disabled people can be expensive, e.g. broadband. They want consideration of this as part of the DLA scheme.

Website www.bbc.co.uk has the programme available online for a short period. Type "see hear" into the search engine on the home page, or use the Related Link below.

Related Link:

See Hear Series 28 Episode 7