§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of instruction material provided to(a) polling clerks and (b) returning officers for the European Elections on 10 June. [89972]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe cost of the training programme for electoral staff for the European Parliamentary elections was £4 million. Much of the material produced for returning officers and presiding officers was common to both so it is not possible to cost these elements separately.
In addition, the Home Office produced a guidance manual for returning officers. The production and distribution costs were approximately £3,500.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consultations his Department carried out with organisations representing blind and visually-impaired people before publishing and distributing literature on the new proportional representation system for the 1999 European elections; [89748]
(2) for what reason his Department's leaflet explaining the new proportional representation system for the 1999 European elections was not available in large print; [89749]
(3) what steps his Department took to ensure that blind and visually impaired people were aware that his Department's leaflet explaining the new proportional representation system for the 1999 European elections was available in Braille and audio-cassette. [89750]
486W
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Government's explanatory leaflet was produced using 14-point type which is the Royal National Institute for the Blind's (RNIB) minimum recommended size to make the text accessible to visually impaired people. The text of the leaflet was also included on teletext where it is normally possible to enlarge the text size.
It is made clear in the leaflet that it was available in Braille and audio-cassette forms. In addition, advertisements about the leaflet were taken in seven RNIB publications. A press notice about the leaflet was sent to 40 disability oriented publications.