Clause 3 - General duties of OFCOM
Communications Bill
12:00 pm
Mr John Greenway (Ryedale, Conservative)
We are grateful to the Minister for agreeing to move the knife. For the benefit of members of the Committee who are not party to such discussions, we believe that this group of clauses is likely to contain more important issues that might otherwise remain undebated than the following group contains. None the less, we are anxious to make progress.
The amendments relate to people with disabilities, the elderly and people on low incomes. We agree with the Government that it is vital that the needs and interests of such people, especially those with disabilities, are recognised and furthered under the
Bill. We warmly welcome clause 3(3)(i) and its specific statement that Ofcom must have regard to
''the needs of persons with disabilities, of the elderly and of those on low incomes'',
but, as the Minister knows, several organisations, in particular the Royal National Institute of the Blind, have questioned whether that reference goes far enough. The amendments probe whether the existing wording is adequate, or whether it needs to be strengthened to have the effect and impact that the Government intend.
Amendments Nos. 138 and 139 would ensure that Ofcom's general duties encompass a firmer focus on the importance of access for the disabled, the elderly and those on low incomes. It is important that access for those people should, as far as possible, be equal or equivalent to that for others. Amendment No. 140 would ensure that the disabled and other excluded groups benefited from Ofcom's media literacy work. Amendment No. 141 would enable the content board to give informed advice on the provision and quality of content services—such as subtitling, audio description and signing—for disabled people, and on the representation of disabled and older people in the media.
Amendment No. 142 would ensure that Ofcom does not overlook or under-represent the experiences of disabled and older people in its research work. Amendment No. 143 would highlight for the consumer panel the interests of those with disabilities, which could be an important part of its work. Amendment No. 144 would ensure that the advice given to disabled people is available in accessible formats. That is a big objective. I do not think that we have to take the Committee through what it would mean in practice for broadcasters, but we recognise what its effects would be. It is important that advice to disabled or elderly people is available in a format with which they are familiar and which ensures that they will receive the message.
New clause 5 addresses an important issue relating to those who design and produce apparatus such as televisions, radios and remote controls, as well as zappers—I have lost count of the number of those in my house. Such apparatus should be user-friendly for disabled and elderly people. Even at my tender age, I cannot read the wretched pages before me without my glasses, and it is absolutely hopeless trying to do so when one is driving down the motorway and must be in the Whip's Office to see the Chief Whip by 11 o'clock.
There is a standard joke in my house: when all else fails, read the instructions. Many devices are now highly technical, so it is important to ensure that people get maximum use from them. I commend the wording of new clause 5, because it does not put a requirement on anyone. It encourages and tries to persuade those who manufacture such devices to have a thought for the disabled and elderly who will have to use them.
The issue is not simply whether people can be expected to understand how equipment works; it is how they can make the best use of their equipment.
Some of the buttons are so small, and the lettering underneath so tiny, that people cannot see them. If we are to move into a digital future that even the elderly and those who are very short sighted—including those who can hardly see at all—can get the best from, it is important that we spend a few moments considering whether the Bill goes far enough in ensuring that those matters are properly addressed by Ofcom and the media industry. Although the Minister might suggest that the wording is already adequate, it is important that the Committee addresses the issue and provides time to consider the needs of vulnerable people so that we can ensure that they can enjoy all the benefits of the future digital age.