News Release

4th March 2002

CAMPAIGNING FOR THE BLIND CONTINUES WITH THE CHURCH

Following concerns he expressed in the House of Commons, Michael Fabricant has now been assured by Ministers that when the Government privatises the Royal Mail - or Consignia, as it is now called - free postage for the blind will continue. "This is imperative for those who receive Talking Books and Newspapers" says Michael Fabricant. "This valuable service could not continue if charities had to pay for the postage".

And now Michael Fabricant and Frank Field, the Labour MP for Birkenhead, are calling on the House of Commons to support plans for large print and Braille versions of The Book of Common Prayer (1662) to be produced. A Motion has been tabled reading: "That this House supports the campaign of the Church and Blindness Action Group to ensure that churches (Anglican, Catholic, and Free) across the country are suitably equipped places for blind and visually impaired people to worship through inexpensive measures such as stating the first line of each hymn, clearly marking steps, providing Braille and large-print versions of texts; notes that the current large-print Book of Common Prayer is illegible for most visually impaired people; and supports the Church and Blindness Action Group in their efforts to provide both Braille and legible large-print copies in every church."

"The visually impaired should have access to worship in the same way as those who are sighted. I hope that churches, and our Cathedral, in the Lichfield Diocese are doing all they can to help the blind and partially sighted to participate fully in their services", adds Michael Fabricant.