HC Deb 27 July 1993 vol 229 cc966-7W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what arrangements his Department makes to ensure that blind and partially sighted people have access to information produced by his Department where it has not been published in alternative media such as Braille, large print or tape;

(2) what is his Department's policy on which information produced by his Department is published in alternative media to standard print such as Braille, tape or large print.

Mr. Stewart

The Scottish Office targets information in an appropriate manner to those who have an interest. Each constituent Department within the Scottish Office determines how best to publish and disseminate the information which it produces. Consideration is consistently given to whether a need exists for a publication to be reproduced in Braille or tape format.

Mr. Kynoch

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were registered blind and partially sighted in each year since 1985; and what figures are projected for registrations in(a) five and (b) 10 years time.

Mr. Stewart

The number of people reported by local authorities as registered blind and partially sighted at 31 March of each year is as follows:

Year Blind Partially sighted
1985 12,738 3,586
1986 13,710 4,008
1987 13,678 4,479
1988 13,760 4,651
1989 14,088 4,834
1990 14,120 5,012
1991 14,552 5,237
1992 19,506 6,210

The increase between 1991 and 1992 is due to revised figures received from Strathclyde region. It is not possible to project future registrations in (a) five and (b) 10 years time.

1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985
Region Blind Partially Sighted Blind Partially Sighted Blind Partially Sighted Blind Partially Sighted Blind Partially Sighted Blind Partially Sighted Blind Partially Sighted Blind Partially Sighted
Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number
Fife 721 502 735 444 716 415 711 382 714 344 721 292 693 262 649 241
Grampian 1,128 502 1,039 448 1,002 371 999 305 946 285 916 227 853 189 732 126
Highland 636 261 622 211 594 212 579 190 540 171 536 177 483 173 465 156
Lothian 2,468 859 2,317 706 2,241 661 2,227 644 2,210 612 2,251 588 2,193 525 2,192 500
Strathclyde2 11,370 2,721 6,709 2,211 6,709 2,211 6,709 2,211 6,709 2,211 6,585 2,193 6,777 1,981 5,985 1,763
Tayside 1,157 519 1,076 454 1,081 440 1,086 417 1,078 405 1,089 373 1,095 353 1,125 309
Orkney 42 22 63 12 50 1 58 1 59 1 58 1 51 2 47 1
Shetland 40 12 55 5 53 6 43 7 39 8 32 13 27 14 25 16
Western Isles 137 90 142 86 137 87 145 87 141 74 158 76 163 74 162 71
Scotland 19,506 6,210 14,552 5,237 14,120 5,012 14,088 4,834 13,760 4,651 13,678 4,479 13,710 4,008 12,738 3,586
1 1989 Figure used in 1990, 1987 Figure used in 1988
2 1992 Figure estimated, 1988 Figure used in 1991. 1990 and 1989; 1984 Figure used for Renfrew in 1986 and 1985