HC Deb 05 July 2000 vol 353 c214W
Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he is taking to promote equal access to(a) digital and (b) cable and satellite TV for deaf and hard of hearing people. [128271]

Janet Anderson

We are about to undertake a review of the targets set out in the Broadcasting Act 1996 and the Broadcasting (Sign Language) Order 1996 of 50 per cent. for subtitling and 5 per cent. for the signing of digital terrestrial programme services by the 10th anniversary of the start of the service. We are continuing to encourage cable and satellite broadcasters to increase the provision of subtitling and signing on their services. We will be considering the needs of viewers with sensory impairments as part of our consideration of the future regulation of broadcasting in the forthcoming White Paper on communications.

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