§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if she will make it her policy to972W pursue harmonising measures at EU level to ensure that future generations of set top boxes and digital TVs (a) have a second sound channel built in and (b) support other key access features for blind, partially-sighted and other disabled people; [68304]
(2) if she will make it her policy to approve the use of general conditions at an early stage to require digital TV operators to supply blind and partially-sighted customers with set top boxes which are capable of receiving audio description and which support accessible electronic programme guides at no extra cost. [68303]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Government have no plans to pursue such harmonising measures with the EU. The design features and production of set top boxes are matters for the manufacturers to decide. However, we have launched a joint consultation with the DTI to examine how integrated digital television sets will help achieve switch over. We are seeking comments on what conditions should apply to digital decoders in order to ensure that consumers with disabilities can get all the benefits of digital television. This will inform our future policy decisions on digital television.