§ Mr. Jack Ashley (Stoke-on-Trent, South)I wish to present a petition that is part of a national appeal by 150,000 people who believe that, without adequate subtitling and sign language, deaf people are deprived of the most modern and powerful means of communication for information, entertainment and education. They are right. My good and hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Grocott) and some of his constituents wish to be associated with the petition, which reads:
The broadcasters are not providing complete access for deaf television viewers, for example, with subtitles or sign language; the number of viewers affected are at least four million; deaf viewers, as equal members of the general public, are entitled to equal access to television programmes.Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House will ensure that legislation be passed placing an obligation on television channel operators to make their programmes more accessible to deaf people by using Teletext subtitles, sign languague or other means and to reach complete coverage by a fixed date.And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.To lie upon the Table.