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Strong Local Voice, Strong Local ChampionAnnette Brooke, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole |
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Annette Brooke meets with Prime Minister for RNIB
March 10, 2010 4:05 PM
Annette met with Gordon Brown, David Blunkett and Lord Low to discuss the requests of the RNIB's accessible information campaign
Annette Brooke MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole met today with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to discuss access to vital health information for people with sight loss and other information disabilities.
Annette had challenged the PM on the issue during Prime Ministers Questions in February and he had agreed to meet with her to discuss the matter further. Annette was joined in the meeting with David Blunkett MP, and Lord Low of Dalston, the Vice President of the RNIB.
This month saw a major victory for equality campaigners when the Government allowed an amendment to the Equality Bill that will strengthen disabled people's right to receive information in an accessible format. This means, for example, that a blind person should receive an appointment letter from a GP or hospital in their preferred format, or someone with a learning disability should receive a leaflet from their local authority about council tax in an easy read format.
During the meeting the Prime Minister was asked to ensure that the Government mandates for the collection and storage of preferred reading format, this is to ensure that, for example, patients can select to have large print information sent to them and be confident that this information is recorded and used.
It was also requested that he writes to Trevor Philips, the head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission to ask for an inquiry into the provision of accessible information by local authorities.
Secretaries of State have been asked to write to all stakeholders to inform them of their new duties and it was requested that the Government looks more generally at procurement to ensure that they are using goods and services that are accessible to all people with information disabilities.
Commenting Annette said 'I am delighted that the meeting went so well today. We got the real sense that Gordon Brown understood and wanted to do something about the issues and I believe that something very positive will come out of this.
The actions we have asked the Government to undertake are not expensive, but they will be invaluable to people with an information disability. The hard bit now will be ensuring that these commitments are enforced and that everyone understands their duties.'
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