§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what means her Department makes available its publications in(a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print, and how this is publicised. [1663]
Mr. Murphy[pursuant to his answer 10 June, Official Report columns 432–33]: The information regarding all the Northern Ireland Departments is as follows:
The Departments of Agriculture and Education do not produce any publications in the formats specified.
75WThe Department of Environment's Roads Service and Water Service have produced charter statements and information leaflets in the formats specified. This information is available through the Royal National Institute for the Blind, who advise their members on the availability of the information. The Roads Service also produces an audio tape outlining on street parking concessions for registered blind people and those with severe disability handicaps. This tape is available through Roads Service Divisional Offices, Disability Action and the Blind Centre for Northern Ireland, all of whom advise interested customers of the tape's availability.
The Heritage Service provides park leaflets, trail leaflets and exhibition texts in both Braille and audio tape at Crawfordsburn Country Park and advertises these services in the PHAB (Physically Handicapped and Able Bodies) magazine.
The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has adopted a policy that all documents addressed to the workforce or the public should be considered for publication in alternative formats. All published documents contain information on the availability of the document in alternative formats. DHSS also works closely with the appropriate voluntary bodies in the drafting and distribution of material published in alternative formats.
The Department of Finance and Personnel's Citizen's Charter Unit has produced all documents in the formats specified since January 1997. These documents are available from the Royal Institute for the Blind and this fact is outlined in each document.
The Department of Economic Development publishes all Disability Advice Service Information in the formats specified. In addition, material on Industrial Tribunals Procedure, citizens charter statement and information on the Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme are also available in Braille, large print and audio. Information on Employees' Rights, Race Relations and Redundancy Payments Service Charter Standard, are available in large print. Some of this information will be publicised on the internet. Domestic Energy Efficiency publications have been mentioned on Blind Radio and copies supplied to The Royal Institute for the Blind.
The Compensation Agency has produced three publications in the formats specified:
and these are available upon request or through the Citizens' Advice Bureaux. In addition the Agency runs a Community Awareness Programme where the publications, in their various formats, are available as required.
- (i) Guide to Criminal Injuries Compensation
- (ii) Guide to Criminal Damage Compensation
- (iii) Agency Charter Statement