Annette Brooke MP welcomes accessibility of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

4.23.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 17th Jul 2007

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole has welcomed the news that for the first time, the Braille and audio book versions of the new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book are to be published alongside the book on 21st July 2007. Previously there has been substantial delay.

Annette Brooke MP has also tabled EDM 1850, welcoming the accessibility of Harry Potter to visually impaired children. This follows on from the work Annette has done alongside the RNIB and the Right to Read campaign. Commenting on the issue Annette Brooke MP said;

"I am delighted that for the first time all children will be able to enjoy the new Harry Potter book, regardless of visual impairment. It is a shame however, that although the book is available in all formats on the same day, the high cost of accessible format copies is still an issue."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The text of Annette's EDM reads as follows:

ACCESSIBILITY OF HARRY POTTER TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN

Brooke, Annette

That this House welcomes the simultaneous publication of Braille, large print and audio versions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for children with visual impairments and dyslexia; notes that this is the first time that all accessible format versions of a book have been published at the same time as the standard print work; expresses its concern that each year 96 per cent. of publications, including school text books, will never become available in formats accessible to disabled children; and therefore calls on the Government to support the Right to Read campaign and lead in the creation of an action plan to ensure that more books are made available simultaneously in formats which children with sight loss or dyslexia can read at the same time as their non-disabled peers, whether for leisure reading or in school.