§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Prime Minister what arrangements are in place for Government Departments to offer financial assistance for CD-ROM applications for blind and visually impaired people; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Department for Education is providing £40,000 for the development of software which will enable blind and partially-sighted people to gain full access to CD-ROM materials. This is being undertaken in collaboration with the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Open university and will be completed later this year. The software will be published by the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
Reimbursement of computer costs Total Reimbursement of computer costs Total GPFH 1991–92 computer costs as a percentage Reimbursement forecast computer costs Total GPFH 1992–93 computer forecast as a percentage FHSA 1990–91 £ 1991–92 £ Per cent. 1992–93 £ Per cent. Cleveland 164,551 390,595 47.77 279,000 35.48 Cumbria 207,618 291,129 38.67 367,000 34.60 Durham 315,675 472,302 34.87 603,000 17.91 Northumberland 163,208 337,076 39.85 109,000 30.28 Gateshead 139,978 112,098 46.37 160,000 68.13 Newcastle 94,301 188,000 21.28 149,000 34.23 North Tyneside 66,176 130,985 21.90 155,000 27.74 South Tyneside 22,738 153,310 10.46 53,000 37.74 Sunderland 99,868 62,796 1.64 150,000 3.33 Northern RHA 1,274,113 2,138,291 34.42 2,025,000 29.38 Humberside 327,888 742,389 52.87 413,000 57.63 North Yorkshire 334,616 816,768 60.06 472,000 75.64 Bradford 273,818 210,981 21.20 304,000 0.00 Calderdale 87,973 147,520 20.97 124,000 44.35