AUDIO DESCRIPTION

Early day motion 263, tabled 11 December 2008 by Alun Michael (Labour). Signed by 124 members.

That this House welcomes the fact that 72 per cent. of blind and partially sighted people in the UK are now familiar with the life-changing service provided by audio description on digital television; notes that the news, information and entertainment that television provides is a vital bridge to the outside world for the UK's two million people with sight loss; further notes that three quarters of this group face significant challenges in following programmes because of their sight loss, leading to isolation and exclusion from contemporary society and culture; welcomes this increase in awareness of audio description which is essential to enable blind and partially sighted people's independent enjoyment of television services; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State to increase the current level of targets to 20 per cent. and enable blind and partially sighted people to participate in and benefit from the digital age.

Signatures by party: Labour 68, Liberal Democrat 35, Conservative 8, DUP 4, Independent 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.