Since getting my sony bravia HD tv every time I record a program in HD and play it back the volume control on the hummy does not work, I have to use the TV remote for the sound. When recording ordinary non HD I can control the sound on the hummy handset, am i missing something in the settings or is this normal?

It is normal. Been discussed on here several times.

Cheers thats answered my question.

In Menu/Settings/ TV Setup turn Dolby Digital off. This cause the box to downmix ac3 audio (used by the HD channels) to lpcm stereo.

Turned it off, will see what happens next time i record a HD Thanks

Just tune to a HD channel now and try it out. Your existing recordings should now be OK as well.