DISABLED PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNICATIONS BILL

Early day motion 727, tabled 12 February 2003 by Roger Berry (Labour). Signed by 100 members.

That this House believes equal and affordable access to digital communication services to be essential to the future inclusion of visually impaired, deafblind and other disabled people; shares the concerns of visually impaired, deafblind and other disabled people that the Communications Bill fails to address fully their access needs; notes that many access solutions are not costly or technically difficult yet would improve the competitiveness of our communications industries; and calls on the Government to strengthen the Bill by giving OFCOM a duty to promote inclusive design of equipment and services, requiring the Consumer Panel to establish an advisory committee for disabled and older people, ensuring the Code of Practice for Electronic Programme Guides incorporates access guidelines, safeguarding access to teletext and increasing audio-description provision to a level which will make a real difference to blind and partially-sighted people's enjoyment of television.

Signatures by party: Labour 60, Liberal Democrat 22, Conservative 8, Labour/Co-operative 5, Plaid Cymru 3, UUP 2.