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Column 553

Portillo, Michael

Price, Sir David

Raison, Rt Hon Timothy

Redwood, John

Renton, Rt Hon Tim

Rhodes James, Robert

Riddick, Graham

Ridsdale, Sir Julian

Roberts, Wyn (Conwy)

Roe, Mrs Marion

Rossi, Sir Hugh

Rowe, Andrew

Rumbold, Mrs Angela

Ryder, Richard

Sayeed, Jonathan

Shaw, David (Dover)

Shaw, Sir Giles (Pudsey)

Shaw, Sir Michael (Scarb')

Shelton, Sir William

Shephard, Mrs G. (Norfolk SW)

Shepherd, Colin (Hereford)

Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge)

Shersby, Michael

Skeet, Sir Trevor

Smith, Sir Dudley (Warwick)

Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield)

Soames, Hon Nicholas

Speed, Keith

Speller, Tony

Spicer, Sir Jim (Dorset W)

Spicer, Michael (S Worcs)

Squire, Robin

Stanbrook, Ivor

Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John

Steen, Anthony

Stevens, Lewis

Stewart, Allan (Eastwood)

Stewart, Andy (Sherwood)

Stokes, Sir John

Stradling Thomas, Sir John

Sumberg, David

Summerson, Hugo

Taylor, Ian (Esher)

Taylor, John M (Solihull)

Tebbit, Rt Hon Norman

Temple-Morris, Peter

Thompson, D. (Calder Valley)

Thurnham, Peter

Townend, John (Bridlington)

Tracey, Richard

Tredinnick, David

Trotter, Neville

Twinn, Dr Ian

Vaughan, Sir Gerard

Walden, George

Walker, Bill (T'side North)

Waller, Gary

Ward, John

Warren, Kenneth

Watts, John

Whitney, Ray

Widdecombe, Ann

Wilkinson, John

Winterton, Mrs Ann

Winterton, Nicholas

Wolfson, Mark

Wood, Timothy

Woodcock, Dr. Mike

Yeo, Tim

Young, Sir George (Acton)

Younger, Rt Hon George

Tellers for the Noes :

Mr. Tom Sackville and

Mr. Irvine Patnick.

Question accordingly negatived .

ENERGY

Ordered ,

That Mr. David Clelland be discharged from the Energy Committee and Mr. John McAllion be added to the Committee.-- [Sir Marcus Fox on behalf of the Committee of Selection.]

SOCIAL SERVICES

Ordered ,

That Mrs. Marion Roe be discharged from the Social Services Committee and Sir Geoffrey Pattie be added to the Committee.-- [Sir Marcus Fox. on behalf of the Committee of Selection.]

EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND ARTS

Ordered ,

That Mr. Timothy Raison be discharged from the Education, Science and Arts Committee and Mr. Gerald Bowden be added to the Committee.-- [Sir Marcus Fox on behalf of the Committee of Selection.]

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Column 554

PETITIONS

Deaf People (Broadcasting)

11.43 pm

Mr. David Hinchliffe (Wakefield) : 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 places

an 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.

Wild Animals (Farming)

11.44 pm

Mrs. Alice Mahon (Halifax) : I present a petition organised by constituents of mine who are members of Lynx--a responsible organisation that believes in peaceful protests against the farming of wild animals for reasons of vanity. The petitioners feel that the cruelty inherent in the keeping and killing of wild animals for reasons of vanity and profit is unnecessary.

To lie upon the Table.

Deaf People (Broadcasting)

11.45 pm

Mr. David Nicholson (Taunton) : I have a petition from 500 of my constituents in Taunton and in the surrounding area on the subject of broadcasting for the deaf. The petition was organised by my constituent, Mrs. Rita DeGaetano, who writes that the petitioners received great help from

"the wonderful organization, the Deaf Broadcasting Council." She adds :

"I have not participated in anything like this before and I can only say it has brought home to me what a great country we live in, with such decent and caring people."

The petition reads :

"Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will ensure that legislation be passed to place an 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. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc."

To lie upon the Table.

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