§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has made to broadcasting authorities concerning the availability of audio-description services on television for blind and partially sighted people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeNone. But I know that a consortium of the Independent Television Commission, the BBC, the ITV Association, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, together with a range of industrial and academic partners, are developing the Audetel project. This project aims to provide an audio-description commentary on television to help those who are blind or partially sighted to understand the programme. I understand that the BBC and ITV hope to begin experimental transmissions in July.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what research has been undertaken by his Department into the use of audio-described television for blind and/or partially sighted people in the United States; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeAudio-description services for television were introduced in the United States in 1990. It is for the partners in the Audetel project to consider how far American experience is helpful in developing audio-descriptive services in the United Kingdom.