HC Deb 18 December 2000 vol 360 cc82-3W
Mr. Andrew George

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what consultation was carried out regarding the accessibility of the design of the England and Wales Census 2001 forms for visually impaired and deaf-blind people; [141548]

(2) if Census 2001 returns in England and Wales from blind, partially sighted and deaf-blind people will be accepted if they are submitted in alternative formats, with particular reference to (a) large print, (b) Braille, (c) disc, (d) audio-tape and (e) e-mail; [141550]

(3) what arrangements are in place to provide one-to-one assistance to visually impaired and deaf-blind people with completion of Census 2001 forms in England and Wales; [141551]

(4) what provision has been made for Census 2001 enumerators in England and Wales to receive specific visual impairment and deaf-blind awareness training; [141552]

(5) what provision has been made for Census 2001 forms in England and Wales and accompanying information to be made available to blind, partially sighted and deaf-blind people in accessible formats, with particular reference to (a) Braille, (b) large print, (c) disc and (d) audio-tape. [1415491

Miss Melanie Johnson

[holding answer 12 December 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew George, dated 18 December 2000: As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent questions concerning provisions in the 2001 Census for those who are visually impaired or deafblined (141549–52). An important new initiative for the 2001 Census is the Community Liaison Programme, through which the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Census staff have consulted and work with community liaison groups and national organisations specifically to assist those who would find the completion of the Census questionnaire difficult. A great deal of consultation has already taken place with several organisations including the Royal National Institute for the Blind, Help the Aged, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation and the Royal National Institute for the Deaf to ensure that we meet the needs of disabled people, including visually impaired and deafblind people. General information about the Census will be available in leaflets in Braille, and in a large print version. The questions and instructions from the official Census form in Braille will be available on request. An audio tape explaining the Census and the questions is expected to be available February 2001. The Census web site will feature disability awareness issues and the text phone Helpline for the deaf will be operating from 1 April 2001. We do not propose to provide the Census forms themselves in Braille or in large print version since the Census is being processed using scanning and image recognition technologies which cannot accommodate forms other than in the standard format. Help in completing the form will, however, be provided by Census enumerators, on a one-to-one basis if necessary, and the blind will be able to provide their Census information by telephone to the Census Helpline or via e-mail using the Braille leaflet as a guide to the questions. Census Area Managers have received specialist training presented by external expert in disability awareness and this training is being cascaded down to all members of the field force. A guide for all the field staff which includes disability awareness issues is also being produced.