§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will require public television broadcasters to ensure that all public information, party political and party election broadcasts are fully accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing people in the United Kingdom. [12001]
§ Mr. FisherThe Broadcasting Act 1990 set a target of 50 per cent. of transmissions for subtitling of programmes by 1998 for Channel 3 services and by the fifth anniversary of the commencement of the service for Channel 5. After that target is reached, it is for the Independent Television Commission to set the level of future targets. It is also a condition of the Channel 4 licence to ensure that 50 per cent. of its programmes are subtitled by 1998. I understand from the ITC that all Channel 3 licensees subtitle all their national news programmes and current affairs programmes and that Channel 4 subtitle their main news and current affairs programmes. Party political broadcasts are also subtitled.
514WUnder the terms of the Broadcasting Act 1996, digital terrestrial television services have to meet a target of subtitling 50 per cent. of programmes by the 10th anniversary of the digital programme service starting. The 1996 Act required the Independent Television Commission to draw up a code on promoting the understanding and enjoyment of programmes by persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. As part of that code, the Independent Television Commission has also set interim targets for subtitling digital services.
In its statement of promises to viewers and listeners, the BBC is committed to subtitling 50 per cent of all its programmes by 1998. The statement also contains a commitment to subtitle all national daily news programmes, regional news and current affairs broadcasts.
The existing arrangements allow the ITC and the BBC flexibility to meet viewers' needs as fully as possible, constrained by statutory minimum subtitling levels and by what is technically and financially realistic. Within these arrangements, broadcasters place particular emphasis naturally on subtitling programmes which inform viewers of news and current affairs. The detailed arrangements for determining which programmes are subtitled, however, are not a matter for government.