§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will introduce statutory regulations to ensure the greater provision of public textphones for deaf and hard of hearing people.[15929]
§ Mr. BattleThe number of public textphones is on the increase and BT plans to increase the numbers from the current level of 90 to approximately 400 by the year 2000. Furthermore Oftel plan to launch a public consultation later this year dedicated to finding ways, including licence modifications if necessary, of improving telecommunications services for people with disabilities. The issue of the provision of public textphones will be raised as part of this consultation. My Department therefore has no plans at present to introduce such statutory regulations to ensure that public textphones are more widely available.