Speaker Hoyle hails new parliamentary broadcasting hub with BSL interpreters

In January alone, the PBU broadcast more than 530 hours of parliamentary proceedings - over 125 hours from the Commons and 149 from the Lords. This included 3,319 virtual contributions into both chambers – 1,580 in the Commons and 1,739 in the Lords. The team is responsible for more live TV than any other British broadcaster.

Broadcasting hub

Each chamber now has a new purpose-built gallery from which business is directed – marking a massive improvement on the unit’s previous basement location across the road from Parliament. The new galleries offer High-Definition coverage for the first time and are configured to move on from HD to 4K in future, once homes adopt this technology more widely.

British Sign Language

During his visit, Sir Lindsay Hoyle was shown a new British Sign Language green-screen studio, from where interpreters sign Commons’ proceedings to BSL users on Parliament Live.TV.

As well as providing BSL interpretation of Prime Minister’s Questions every week, signing will also be used to interpret the unveiling of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget statement on 3 March.

Sir Lindsay said the new facilities had already made an impact on proceedings, by speeding up connections between MPs who contribute virtually with those already in the Chamber.

Virtual proceedings

He also praised the broadcasting team for enabling the House to switch to virtual proceedings almost overnight at the start of the pandemic in spring 2020 – and for managing a seamless move to the Canon Row studios last summer.

‘With viewing figures of ParliamentLive.tv hitting record levels in the past year, it is only right we make our proceedings as accessible as possible,’ 

‘I am in awe at the way the PBU and their colleagues NEP Bow Tie, have – together with colleagues across the estate – enabled MPs to work virtually and safely almost overnight, bringing in some of the biggest changes to the House’s working in its more than 700-year history, while ensuring Parliament continues to function.

‘We know there is more work to do, but with BSL interpretation, and the prospect of a new subtitling service for all Commons and Lords chamber business on ParliamentLive later this year, we are continuing to ensure we have a Parliament that is as open and accessible as possible.’

Amanda Casson-Webb, Joint CEO of the Royal Association for Deaf People, said:

“Being able to see and understand our parliamentary democracy in action is a basic need of citizenship. We welcome any moves that make parliament’s business accessible to all citizens. We look forward to Parliamentary Broadcasting working in collaboration with deaf organisations and the media to make accessible communications part of everyday life.