West Midlands Euro-MP highlights publishers losing out on several million pounds on European Day of People with Disabilities

6.00.00pm GMT Fri 3rd Dec 2004

Liz Lynne MEP

On European Day of People with Disabilities (3rd December), Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Disability issues in the European Parliament, Liz Lynne has called on publishers to produce more books in large print and on tape.

Three million people in the UK are being denied the right to read just because they have a sight problem or print reading disability. New research commissioned by RNIB shows that a shocking 96 per cent of books are not available in large print, audio or braille.

Liberal Democrat Disability Spokesperson Liz Lynne MEP in the European Parliament said "If a blind or partially sighted person wants to read, they are faced with poor choice, additional expense and they often have to rely on charities to transcribe or lend books to them. Publishers are ignoring a market which could be worth several million pounds each year. 100 people are registered blind or partially sighted every day and these people want to be able to read or listen to the latest books."

Liz Lynne further said "I am also calling on the Government to scrap VAT on Audio books and e-books. The UK has a proud history of not imposing VAT on basic necessities. That is why ordinary print books are zero rated for VAT. However, the Government has to recognise that audio books are by no means a luxury for those who need them and should not have the full rate of VAT imposed."