§ Mr. Alan CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture. Media and Sport what recent discussions her Department has had with the film industry over subtitled films for deaf people. [65529]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Department has discussed disability issues, including the provision of subtitled films for deaf people, with the Film Council and the Cinema Exhibitors Association. The Film Council has provision for sub-titled films in its new specialised distribution and exhibition strategy and the Cinema Exhibitors Association is also working towards more subtitled films for the deaf with the provision of new equipment. The Department has also liaised with the audiovisual industry, for example via the Broadcasters Disability Network and the British Video Association, as well as with organisations representing those with hearing difficulties in order to promote the availability of sub-titled material throughout the audiovisual sector.
§ Paul HolmesTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she plans to ensure that the quality standards for television subtitling are maintained once the regulatory requirements for television subtitling are extended to digital cable and satellite in future communications legislation. [66252]
§ Dr. HowellsThe draft Communications Bill gives OFCOM a requirement to produce, publish and from time to time review, a Code relating to provision of television 513W 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, as the current Code produced by the Independent Television Commission does. The Code applies to the services listed in subsection (9) of Section 203 of the draft Communication Bill.