HC Deb 03 June 1997 vol 295 c139W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the President of the Board of Trade by what means her Department makes available its publications in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print; and how this is publicised. [1679]

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

In discussions with the RNIB and other interested organisations, the Department seeks to ensure that its publications are accessible to the visually impaired.

To this end, our consumer advice on metrication changes in 1995 was published and distributed in Braille by the RNIB on behalf of the Department. More recently, audio advice about tactile danger warnings and about risks of carbon monoxide poisoning have been made available to those with visual impairment through COI's regular Sound Advice audio tapes, which are distributed to over 4,500 organisations dealing with blind and partially sighted people.

Also guidance will shortly be issued within the Department aimed at making printed material easier to read for visually impaired people.

The Department also has a range of information about its policies, programmes and publications on the Internet (http.\\www.dti.gov.uk\). It is possible to print all DTI pages from the Internet in large print; the pages are also available in audio to those who have access to a Talking Computer.