§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will discuss with examination boards the need for exam papers to be produced in braille;
(2) what information he has concerning the cost of individually and mass-producing examination papers in braille.
§ Mr. EggarOfficials from the Department have had discussions about the braille needs of visually impaired examination candidates with the Royal National Institute for the Blind, with the secretaries of the GCE examining boards for A-level and AS-examinations, and with the Joint Council for the GCSE. Figures provided by these bodies suggest that the cost of translating an average length examination paper into braille lies between £240 and £480; significant savings are possible where the same paper is used by several candidates.
§ Mr. ButterfillTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his Department's policy on ensuring blind and partially sighted higher and further education students have adequate access to the examination process.
§ Mr. EggarThe Government are concerned to ensure that students with disabilities, including those who are blind or partially sighted, should have equal access to further and higher education. It is a matter for individual institutions, in consultation as appropriate with qualification awarding bodies, to ensure that suitable arrangements are made for the assessment of individual students.