---

Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will take steps to increase the number of books, magazines and newspapers available in large print, audio, Braille and electronic formats accessible to people with a visual impairment, dyslexia or other reading disability; and if he will make a statement. [176682] Margaret Hodge: We are already taking a number of steps to ensure this issue is addressed. We have extended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to include duties on local authorities and education institutions to improve access for disabled learners. Over £600 million will be made available over the period 2001-02 to 2005-06 to support access improvements. Officials at the Department of Trade and Industry have been in discussion with the Right to Read Alliance and the Publishers Association about the possibility of a central deposit of electronic versions of all new material published in this country. Officials have worked with the RNIB and copyright owners to reduce delays in gaining copyright clearance, when making accessible copies of printed materials and supported the establishment of the Reveal database which provides information about accessible resources.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

176682; 422 c779-80W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Access Disability Audio recordings Disability aids Braille Dyslexia Publications Newspaper press Magazine press Reading Visual impairment

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk