Written question asked by Michael John Foster (Labour) on Thursday, 21 January 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 26 January 1999. It was answered by George Mudie (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 January 1999 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has for departmental (a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired.

Answer: Mr. Michael J. Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for departmental (a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67838] Mr. Mudie: As the Department responsible for disability issues, we aim to make our most important documents available to the widest possible audiences including the visually impaired. Summaries of recent Green and White Papers have been made available free in Braille and on audio cassette. The texts are also available on the Department's website, which many people with less severe visual impairments find very convenient, since they can adjust their own browser software to as large a type size as they require. It has not been our usual practice to offer texts on floppy disk simply because there has not been significant demand. Availability of texts via the internet may now be satisfying that demand but, if we receive an ad hoc request for a text on disk, we are happy to produce and supply it.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 67838; 324 c229-30W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Software Disability aids Government departments Visual impairment Department for Education and Employment White papers Consultation papers