§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what provision she plans to make for those(a) with disabilities, (b) with imperfect sight and (c) hard of hearing in implementing the White Paper on Communications. [44485]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Government fully recognise the importance of access to communications services for people with disabilities.
As proposed in the White Paper, the forthcoming Communications Bill will extend to digital cable and digital satellite broadcasters the current requirements for broadcasters on digital terrestrial television to provide subtitling, sign language and audio description services on their channels.
More generally, Ofcom will be placed under a duty, wherever relevant, to have regard to the needs of persons with disabilities.