Mr. Michael J. FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for departmental(a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67840]
§ Mr. HuttonI refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 27 January 1999,Official Report, column 296.
As the Department responsible for health issues, we aim to make our documents available to the widest possible audiences. The Green Paper, "Our Healthier Nation", included versions in Braille, audio tape and large print and the Social Services White Paper versions in Braille and audio tape.
Texts of Green and White Papers are also available on The Stationery Office website, which many people with less severe visual impairments find very convenient, since they can adjust their own browser software to as large a type as they require.
It has not been our usual practice to offer texts on floppy disks because there has not been significant demand. Availability of texts via the internet may now be satisfying that demand but, if we receive an ad-hoc request for a text on disk, we are happy to produce and supply it.