House of Commons · Westminster Hall
15 March 2023 · 3 other contributors · 7,918 words
Opened by Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Responding minister: Stuart Andrew
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Liz Twist raised concerns about access to sport: people with colour blindness in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
I ask the Minister to have conversations with departments for education and health to encourage routine screening of colour vision deficiency, place guidelines for fixtures on a firmer footing, ensure safety issues are addressed by sports authorities, and meet me to discuss these issues further.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
I am concerned about the prevalence of colour blindness in the UK, affecting one in 12 boys and men and one in 200 girls and women. The condition impacts daily life through difficulties with technology, education, and sport due to lack of accessibility. Many children are undiagnosed as screening is not required in schools or optician's appointments.
Colour blindness affects around 450,000 schoolchildren in the UK and can limit their ability to learn and participate in school sports. Studies show that 80% of pupils reach year 7 without ever having had a colour vision test. School screening for colour blindness ended in 2009, and teachers are often not trained in how to identify and support colour-blind children. The issue continues into professional sport where players face challenges due to lack of awareness among clubs and coaches. Referees also struggle with this issue. Fans encounter difficulties with ticketing portals using colours to distinguish different seat pricing and availability.
Discussed the difficulties faced by people with colour blindness in everyday life, particularly in sports. Cited statistics showing that one in 12 men and one in 200 women are affected. Mentioned England's decision to wear their home kit instead of their crimson away kit during UEFA Women's Euro 2022 to avoid a clash for colour-blind fans. Asked the Minister if there have been discussions with the Football Association regarding mandatory checks before games to prevent colour clashes. Highlighted the need for stadiums to be audited for accessibility and asked what has been done to encourage this. Emphasized the importance of raising awareness in schools about colour blindness.
The speaker raised concerns about the lack of screening for colour blindness in England and called for a review. She highlighted that guidance under the Equality Act 2010 is incorrect, discouraging people from bringing legal challenges against discrimination. With approximately 3 million people affected by colour vision deficiency in Britain, she stressed the importance of addressing needs related to CVD in sports.
Government Response
Stuart AndrewIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg. I congratulate the hon. Member for Blaydon on securing this important debate and thank Members for their contributions. There is a fair bit of cross-party consensus on this issue. The world around us is often designed for people with standard colour vision, which can make everyday tasks and activities much more difficult for those with colour blindness. In team sports, the colours of strips can be difficult to distinguish between; team training presents similar challenges when different coloured cones are used. I struggle personally with distinguishing ball colours in snooker. The statistics show that one in 12 males and one in 200 females have some form of colour blindness, meaning at least one player in every male squad is likely to be colour blind. This condition can affect athletes' development and performance at every level. In canoeing, competitors might find it difficult to distinguish between the red and green gate markings; in cricket, the red balls can be challenging against a green background. The minister welcomes the English Football League's decision to allow clubs to wear away kits at home games next season to aid colour-blind people in differentiating teams. He also mentions that Stoke City has renamed its replica kit items by adding descriptions of the colour on labels, making it easier for colour-blind fans to support their club. World Rugby has made changes to make the sport inclusive to those with colour vision deficiency. The minister highlights a collaborative partnership called Tackling Colour Blindness in Sport which is doing great work investigating the prevalence of colour blindness in professional sports and identifying any barriers to progression for colour-blind players as well as strategies to overcome them. The Government's aim is to create an inclusive and diverse sports sector, ensuring that inclusion features heavily in their cross-Government sports strategy. He will continue to work with stakeholders to make sport in England as inclusive as possible.