§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent by his Department in each of the last three years to(a) produce public information in alternative formats for visually impaired people and (b) publicise the availability of accessible information among visually impaired people.
§ Mr. HowardThe following is my Department's spend on producing public information for visually impaired people in each of the past three years:
My Department does not cost the work done by crime prevention officers, fire officers or others to publicise the availability of material. To gather such data would not be cost-effective.
£ 1991–92 63,000 1992–93 93,000 1993–94 165,280
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate which departmental publications are currently available(a) in Braille, (b) in large print and (c) on tape; and if he will indicate what efforts have been made by his Department to inform visually impaired people about the availability of publications in alternative formats to normal print.
§ Mr. HowardMy Department publishes the following printed material in large print:
462WHome Department how many (a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners were held in police cells in (a) Greater Manchester and (b) the north-west of England in each of the last four months.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Andrew F. Bennett, dated 24 October 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the numbers of remand and convicted prisoners held in police cells in Greater Manchester and the North West of England in each of the last 4 months.The information you require is given below:The following audio tapes are available:
- Fire Safety advice for disabled people
- Don't Lose Your Vote
- In doubt? Keep Them Out (warning against bogus callers)
- Make a Difference (about voluntary services)
- Fire Safety in the Home
- Practical Ways to Crack Crime—the Family Guide
My Department has not produced material in Braille but would consider requests to do so.
Crime prevention material is ordered and distributed by local police crime prevention officers. Blind or partially sighted people may obtain copies free of charge by contacting their local police. My Department's crime prevention publicity catalogue lists the availability of material for blind and partially sighted people.
Fire safety material is promoted through all libraries in England and Wales which have large print sections; the RNIB; health authorities; social services; talking newspapers; and citizens advice bureaux. The material is also provided at local level by fire brigades.
The RNIB has been informed about the availability of "Don't Lose Your Vote" and "Make a Difference".