HC Deb 10 December 2002 vol 396 c247W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to regulate the provision of subtitles, signing and audio-description of broadcasts to ensure the maintenance of quality standards. [85813]

Dr. Howells

The Communications Bill gives Ofcom a requirement to produce, publish and from time to time review, a code relating to provision of television services for the deaf and visually impaired and the means by which such services should be promoted. The code will include guidance on the technical standards to be attained for subtitling, signing and audio description as the current code produced by the Independent Television Commission does.