HC Deb 19 January 1995 vol 252 c588W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans his Department has to require the Independent Television Commission to produce detailed, public, measurable assessments of how the ITV companies are meeting their franchise obligations.

Mr. Dorrell

The Independent Television Commission is required to publish in its annual report where Channel 3 licensed have failed to comply with licence conditions relating to certain statutory requirements.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the progress made on the provision of subtitling and signing on television programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dorrell

Subtitling is provided on Channel 3 and Channel 4 as well as on BBC television services. The Independent Television Commission is responsible for monitoring the requirements on subtitling in the Channel 3 and Channel 4 licences. The commission published its assessment in its first annual performance review in May 1994.