HC Deb 24 July 2000 vol 354 cc407-8W
Mr. Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that all future literature which forms part of National Health Service public consultations will be available in a variety of formats to enable accessibility for the sensory-impaired. [131747]

Ms Stuart

[holding answer 21 July 2000]All the Department's publications are available on request in braille, on audio cassette tape, on disk or in large print. Additionally, documents are simultaneously published on the Department's website, which has been designed in line with the Cabinet Office guidelines on accessibility. Braille and large print publications and/or audio tapes are produced as standard for certain categories of information, including major consultation documents produced by the Department.

Mr. Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is in relation to the production of its publications in accessible formats for the sensory-impaired. [131746]

Ms Stuart

[holding answer 21 July 2000]All the Department's publications are available on request in braille, on audio cassette tape, on disk or in large print. Additionally, documents are simultaneously published on the Department's website, which has been designed in line with the Cabinet Office guidelines on accessibility.

Braille and large print publications and/or audio tapes are produced as standard for certain categories of information, including: consultation documents; information specifically aimed at elderly or disabled people; and information about help with costs.

Mr. Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nationally-produced public information leaflets and booklets have also been available since 1990 in(a) Braille, (b) moon, (c) large print, (d) audio-tape and (e) other formats suitable for those with a single or dual sensory impairment. [131781]

Ms Stuart

All the Department's publications are available on request in braille, on audio cassette tape, on disk or in large print. Additionally, documents are simultaneously published on the Department's website, which has been designed in line with the Cabinet Office guidelines on accessibility.

Braille and large print publications and/or audio tapes are produced as standard for certain categories of information, including: consultation documents; information specifically aimed at elderly or disabled people; and information about help with costs. The following table provides information about special format publications in these categories since April 1993.

Format Number
Braille 51
Moon 1
Large print 43
Audio tape 83

Notes:

1. Before April 1993 responsibility for printing and publishing services rested with Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

2. Table does not show one-off publications/tapes produced in response to individual consumer requests