OFCOM'S PROPOSALS FOR TELEVISION SUBTITLING - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament

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Early Day Motions

As this motion is using historical data, we may not have the record of the original ordering, in which case signatories are listed alphabetically.

Motion text

That this House expresses concern that Ofcom is proposing to grant broadcasters of live discussion programmes and parliamentary proceedings an exemption from the provision of subtitling services; further notes that Ofcom is proposing to extend the requirments to provide access services to a very small proportion of the total number of licensed digital cable and satellite channels and in addition is rejecting the long established practice adopted by ITC since the Broadcasting Act 1990 of setting increasing interim targets for subtitling provision which will lead to the small number of newly regulated channels facing a minimum requirement of subtitling of a mere 10 per cent. of their output for the next five years; further believes that Ofcom's current proposals are based on a number of inaccurate technical assumptions and that it is failing to recognise the immense benefits of television subtitles for the one million people who use them for all television viewing as well as to the far greater population that use them on a regular basis; and therefore calls upon Ofcom to fully reconsider its current proposals and ensure that the intent of Parliament as clearly expressed in the Communications Act 2003 and in the extensive debates on access services are fulfilled by ending the proposed exemption for live discussion and parliamentary proceedings and by setting demanding yearly targets for subtitling provision for a significantly greater number of channels.

Signatures (135)

Supporters (134)
Withdrawn signatures (1)

The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.

Liberal Democrat

25 February 2004

Allan, Mr Richard

Liberal Democrat

Sheffield, Hallam

Amess, Mr David

25 February 2004

Atkinson, Mr David

Bournemouth East

Erith and Thamesmead

Barnes, Mr Harry

26 February 2004

North East Derbyshire

In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.

Liberal Democrat

2 November 2004

Begg, Dame Anne

Ulster Unionist Party

Beith, Sir Alan

Liberal Democrat

Berwick-upon-Tweed

7 September 2004

Berry, Dr Roger

25 February 2004

Betts, Mr Clive

Sheffield, Attercliffe

Borrow, Mr David S.

Bottomley, Sir Peter

Liberal Democrat

Carshalton and Wallington

Brazier, Mr Julian

Breed, Mr Colin

Liberal Democrat

South East Cornwall

Brooke, Annette

Liberal Democrat

Mid Dorset and North Poole

North East Bedfordshire

Cable, Dr Vincent

Liberal Democrat

Calton, Mrs Patsy

Liberal Democrat

Campbell, Mrs Anne

7 September 2004

Campbell, Sir Menzies

Liberal Democrat

North East Fife

Carmichael, Mr Alistair

Liberal Democrat

Orkney and Shetland

Caton, Mr Martin

Chapman, Sir Sydney

Chipping Barnet

Chidgey, Mr David

Liberal Democrat

Clark, Mrs Helen

25 February 2004

Coatbridge and Chryston

Leyton and Wanstead

Colman, Mr Tony

Connarty, Michael

7 September 2004

26 February 2004

Islington North

26 February 2004

Cunningham, Tony

Curtis-Thomas, Mrs Claire

Davey, Mr Edward

Liberal Democrat

26 February 2004

Kingston and Surbiton

Liberal Democrat

Duncan, Mr Peter

Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

Etherington, Bill

Sunderland North

Evans, Mr Nigel

1 November 2004

Ewing, Annabelle

Scottish National Party

26 February 2004

Fabricant, Michael

Stoke-on-Trent Central

Flight, Mr Howard

Arundel and South Downs

Liberal Democrat

25 February 2004

Liberal Democrat

26 February 2004

Liberal Democrat

Gillan, Mrs Cheryl

Chesham and Amersham

Grayling, Chris

Epsom and Ewell

Liberal Democrat

Greenway, Mr John

Griffiths, Jane

Griffiths, Mr Win

Grogan, Mr John

Hammond, Mr Philip

Runnymede and Weybridge

Hancock, Mr Mike

Liberal Democrat

Portsmouth South

Harris, Dr Evan

Liberal Democrat

11 October 2004

Oxford West and Abingdon

Liberal Democrat

Hendry, Charles

Ashton-under-Lyne

Liberal Democrat

26 February 2004

Hopkins, Kelvin

Hoyle, Mr Lindsay

26 February 2004

Liberal Democrat

North Southwark and Bermondsey

Hunter, Mr Andrew

Independent Conservative

Jenkins, Mr Brian

25 October 2004

Jones, Mr Nigel

Liberal Democrat

Keetch, Mr Paul

Liberal Democrat

Lazarowicz, Mark

Edinburgh North and Leith

Brighton, Pavilion

Lewis, Dr Julian

New Forest East

Lidington, Mr David

Manchester Central

Llwyd, Mr Elfyn

26 February 2004

Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

Marsden, Mr Paul

Liberal Democrat

26 February 2004

Shrewsbury and Atcham

Marshall-Andrews, Mr Robert

McIntosh, Miss Anne

McNamara, Mr Kevin

Kingston upon Hull North

Mercer, Patrick

Mitchell, Mr Austin

7 September 2004

Moore, Mr Michael

Liberal Democrat

Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

Mudie, Mr George

Murrison, Dr Andrew

O'Hara, Mr Edward

Liberal Democrat

Montgomeryshire

Pollard, Mr Kerry

26 February 2004

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

Portsmouth North

Robertson, John

Glasgow, Anniesland

Robinson, Mrs Iris

Democratic Unionist Party

2 November 2004

Roe, Mrs Marion

Liberal Democrat

26 February 2004

Salmond, Mr Alex

Scottish National Party

Banff and Buchan

Sanders, Mr Adrian

Liberal Democrat

Sayeed, Mr Jonathan

Mid Bedfordshire

South West Bedfordshire

Nottingham South

Singh, Mr Marsha

Smith, Sir Robert

Liberal Democrat

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Smyth, The Rev Martin

Ulster Unionist Party

26 February 2004

26 February 2004

Stunell, Andrew

Liberal Democrat

North West Leicestershire

Taylor, Matthew

Liberal Democrat

Truro and St Austell

Liberal Democrat

Thomas, Mr Simon

26 February 2004

Tonge, Dr Jenny

Liberal Democrat

Turner, Mr Dennis

Wolverhampton South East

Liberal Democrat

26 February 2004

Finchley and Golders Green

Walter, Mr Robert

Waterson, Mr Nigel

Webb, Prof Steve

Liberal Democrat

North East Milton Keynes

Williams, Mrs Betty

Williams, Mr Roger

Liberal Democrat

Brecon and Radnorshire

Willis, Mr Phil

Liberal Democrat

Harrogate and Knaresborough

Winterton, Sir Nicholas

Younger-Ross, Richard

Liberal Democrat

These members had previously signed the motion, but have now withdrawn their support. The date shown is when the Member withdrew their signature from the motion.

Davis, Mr Terry

Birmingham, Hodge Hill