HC Deb 17 October 1994 vol 248 cc35-6W
Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for education how much has been spent by her Department in each of the last three years to(a) produce public information in alternative formats for visually impaired people and (b) publicise the availability of accessible information amongst visually impaired people.

Mr. Forth

(a) DFE expenditure on the production of public information for visually impaired people in Braille and on audio tape over the last three years is as follows:

£
1992 6,730
1993 29,365
1994 172,364
1 to date

(b) DFE publications for the visually impaired are publicised alongside the conventionally printed versions, supported by mailings to organisations and associations with special responsibilities for blind and visually impaired people. It is not possible to disaggregate the cost.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will indicate which departmental publications are currently available(a) in Braille, (b) in large print and (c) on tape; and if she will indicate what efforts have been made by her Department to inform visually impaired people about the availability of publications in alternative formats to normal print.

Mr. Forth

DFE publications are currently available in the following alternative formats for the blind and visually impaired:

(a) Braille:

  • The Updated Parent's Charter Special Educational Needs (SEN)—
  • Code of Practice.
  • SEN—A guide for parents
  • SEN Tribunal—How to appeal National School Tests in 1994 Student grants and loans 1994–95

(b) Large Print: no publications available.

(c) Audio Tape:

  • The Updated Parent's Charter Special Education Needs (SEN)—
  • Code of Practice
  • SEN—A guide for parents
  • SEN Tribunal—How to appeal National School Tests in 1994 The Charterfor Higher Education
  • The Charter for Further Education
DFE publications for the visually impaired are publicised alongside the conventionally printed versions, supported by mailings and "Sound Advice", an audio-tape magazine sent to organisations and associations with special responsibilities for blind and visually impaired people.