Communications Bill (Hansard, 17 July 2002)

§ Mr. Berry
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to place a duty upon Ofcom(a) to ensure that inclusive design principles inform the development of all future digital communication technologies, facilities, services and equipment, (b) to promote the need for disability awareness and equality training throughout the communication industries and (c) to ensure that accessible communications services, equipment and facilities, with special emphasis on
406W
training and continuing support in their use, are made readily available at no extra cost to consumers who are disabled. [67783]

§ Dr. Howells
Ofcom must have regard to the needs of people with disabilities in carrying out all of its functions—this requirement is in Clause 3(2)d of the draft Communications Bill.
Although there is no specific requirement on Ofcom to ensure that communications equipment is provided for disabled users the EC Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive permits the EC Commission to decide that particular types of apparatus shall support certain features for disabled users. The Government is working to improve the range of communications equipment available for disabled users through raising awareness of their needs among equipment designers and manufacturers.

§ Dr. Howells
Ofcom must have regard to the needs of people with disabilities in carrying out all of its functions—this requirement is in Clause 3(2)d of the draft Communications Bill.
Although there is no specific requirement on Ofcom to ensure that communications equipment is provided for disabled users the EC Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive permits the EC Commission to decide that particular types of apparatus shall support certain features for disabled users. The Government are working to improve the range of communications equipment available for disabled users through raising awareness of their needs among equipment designers and manufacturers.

§ Miss McIntosh
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what savings she envisages by replacing existing regulators with the Office of Communications with regard to(a) staff and (b) expenditure; and what qualitative change in the culture of regulation she expects to be achieved by replacing the existing regulators with Ofcom. [69373]

§ Dr. Howells
The Government expect the replacement of the existing regulators by Ofcom to result in savings through greater administrative efficiency and the elimination of duplication. It is, however, too early to quantify any such savings at this stage.
The creation of Ofcom should allow a more coherent, integrated and balanced approach to be taken to regulation across the communications sector as a whole.

§ Miss McIntosh
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on the creation of the Contents Board as part of the Office of Communications; and if she will make a statement. [67856]

§ Dr. Howells
A number of representations have been made which refer to the creation of the proposed Content Board as part of Ofcom as part of the consultation process following the publication of the draft Communications Bill.
These representations will be considered along with all other responses to the consultation and the report of the Joint Committee undertaking pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill.
407W

§ Mr. Berry
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to enshrine a grant-making power for the Secretary of State in the forthcoming Communications Bill similar to that enshrined in section 93 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 to defray or contribute towards expenses incurred in developing and providing accessible communications apparatus and technologies for disabled people. [68305]

§ Dr. Howells
The grant making powers under section 93 of the Telecommunications Act have never been used and it is not intended to carry them forward into the forthcoming Communications Bill. The Government will continue to work to improve the range of communications equipment available for people with disabilities through raising awareness of their needs among equipment designers and manufacturers.