§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the British Broadcasting Corporation and commercial television companies about extending the subtitling of television programmes to help deaf viewers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorMy right hon. and noble Friend, the then Under-Secretary of State, wrote in September 1981 to the chairmen of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority to inform them of a meeting he had had with representatives of the Deaf Broadcasting Campaign and of their representations to him that more provision for deaf viewers should be made on the television screen by subtitling and other means. However, the responsibility for deciding on the resources to be devoted to the subtitling of television programmes rests entirely with the broadcasting organisations.