A balloted bill from Labour MP Rachel Squire, which would remove the barriers created by copyright law to visually impaired people's access to books and other reading materials, while safeguarding the rights of authors and publishers.

House of Commons

First reading: July 18 2001 (HC Bill 23)

Second reading: March 15 2002

Standing Committee D

• First sitting: May 1 2002 (am)
• The bill as amended in committee: HC Bill 131

Remaining stages: June 21 2002

House of Lords

First reading: June 24 2002 (HL Bill 94)

Second reading: July 12 2002

Committee: July 30 2002 (Discharged)

Third reading: October 11 2002

Royal Assent: November 7 2002