Deaf People (Broadcasting)

Petitions – in the House of Commons at 11:43 pm on 27 November 1989.

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Photo of Mr David Hinchliffe Mr David Hinchliffe , Wakefield 11:43, 27 November 1989

I wish to present a petition which has been organised by two of my constituents, Miss Janet Pearson and Miss Mavis Lawson, who are both hearing impaired. The petition contains 600 signatures and it calls for improved provision for broadcasting cover for deaf people.

The petitioners maintain that broadcasts are not providing complete access for deaf television viewers, for example with subtitles.The number of viewers affected is at least 4 million.Deaf people, as equal members of the general public are entitled to equal access to television programmes.The petition calls upon the Government to bring forward legislation that placesan obligation on television channel operators to make their programmes more accessible to deaf people by using teletext, subtitles, sign language or other means, and to reach complete coverage by a fixed date.It is obvious that the petitioners hope that the obligation will be included in the broadcasting Bill, and I am happy to support the action that they have taken in presenting the petition. I support their aims.

To lie upon the Table.