§ Mr. Roger Sims (Chislehurst)I beg to present a petition from Mr. Alan Roberts, himself profoundly deaf, which is part of a national petition presented by the Deaf Broadcasting Council. Its terms are identical to those of the petition already presented by the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley).
§ To lie upon the Table.
1295 9.40 am§ Rev. Martin Smyth (Belfast, South)I beg to present a petition signed by Mrs. G. Menhinnick of Aberdeen and by 4,000 other people from places stretching from Aberdeen to Armagh, and from London to Londonderry, pleading for the cause of the deaf.
§ To lie upon the Table.
§ Mrs. Margaret Ewing (Moray)I present two petitions that are also part of the national campaign by the Deaf Broadcasting Council. One petition has more than 1,000 signatures and originates from my constituency, Moray, and from others such as the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) and of the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce), who is present in the Chamber. The other petition has some 4,000 signatures, which were collected in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. I acknowledge the honour of presenting the petitions to the House, and, like the petitioners, humbly pray that the cause that is the subject of the petitions, will be recognised by the Government.
§ To lie upon the Table.
9.42 am§ Mr. Graham Allen (Nottingham, North)I wish to present a petition from the people of Nottingham, North and from others nearby in respect of the television service provided to the deaf. The petition reads:
The people of the constituency of Nottingham, North and elsewhere showeth that the broadcasters are not providing complete access for deaf television viewers—for example, with subtitles or sign language. The number of viewers thus affected is 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 legislation be passed placing an obligation on television channel operators to make their programmes more accessible to deaf people by using teletext, subtitles, sign language, or other means, and to reach complete coverage by a fixed date.It is a great privilege for me to present that petition to the House.
§ To lie upon the Table.
9.44 am§ Mrs. Rosie Barnes (Greenwich)It gives me great pleasure to present a petition on behalf of more than 100 residents of Greenwich and their concerned relatives and friends, who have an interest in deaf people—who at present feel that they are excluded from participating fully in television viewing. My petition is part of the general petition being presented today.
I share the concerns of my constituents. Deafness is an isolating disability. Not only does the condition itself present special problems, but attitudes to deafness because of its invisibility make those problems much worse. I share the concerns expressed by my petitioners and by other right hon. and hon. Members, who hope that the necessary amendments will be made to the Broadcasting Bill.
§ To lie upon the Table.