North Wales MS and Chair of the Senedd’s Cross Party Group on Deaf Issues, Mark Isherwood, is delighted that his much-needed British Sign Language (BSL) (Wales) Bill is moving forward after a vote in the Senedd today.
He is, however, concerned that the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Lesley Griffiths MS, stated she does not think the Bill is needed and worried that the Welsh Government could therefore ‘Whip’ Labour Members to defeat the Bill at its next stage, leaving Wales as the only part of the UK without specific BSL legislation.
In February 2021, during the last Senedd Term, and again in December 2022, during this Senedd Term, the Welsh Parliament, voted in favour of noting Mr Isherwood’s proposal for a Bill that “would make provision to encourage the use of British Sign Language – or BSL - in Wales and improve access to education and services in BSL”.
In today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, he sought the Senedd’s agreement to introduce the Bill and was pleased to receive support from members.
Speaking in the meeting, he said:
“With members of all Parties voting in favour of the motion each time, demonstrating a clear appetite for such BSL legislation across the Senedd Chamber, and with BSL signers, D/deaf people and communities across Wales continuing to ask me to bring forward a BSL Bill in Wales, I am grateful for this opportunity to now seek the Senedd’s agreement to introduce this Bill.
“I was encouraged when Labour MP Rosie Cooper introduced her British Sign Language Bill in the UK Parliament, co-sponsored by Conservative Lord Holmes of Richmond, when this secured the UK Government's support, and when it was passed in March 2022 and gained Royal Assent the following month.
“However, although the UK Act creates a duty for the UK Government to prepare and publish BSL reports describing what Government Departments have done to promote the use of BSL in their communications with the public, the UK Act specifically excludes reporting on matters devolved to Scotland and Wales. The Act does not extend the reporting or guidance duty to the Governments of Wales and Scotland.
Mr Isherwood stressed that with Northern Ireland progressing plans to bring forward a Sign Language Bill there, Wales will be the only part of the UK that is not covered by specific BSL legislation if his Bill does not proceed,.
He added:
“The purpose of this Bill is to make provision to promote and facilitate the use of BSL and its tactile forms in Wales; improve access to education, health and public services in BSL; and support the removal of barriers that exist for deaf people and their families in education, health, public services, support services and in the workplace.
“This is a Language Bill that supports Welsh Deaf leadership on all BSL matters in Wales.
“This Bill aligns with the seven well-being goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 as they relate to the long-term needs of BSL users of all ages.
“This Bill would also support existing commitments including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“The Bill would also work towards ensuring that BSL signers are not treated less favourably than those who speak Welsh or English, and make sure that deaf communities have a real voice in the design and delivery of services to ensure they meet their needs.
“Existing legislation does not meet the needs of the D/deaf community and BSL signers.”
He added:
“Sign languages are full languages with their own communities, histories and cultures.
“Despite the Welsh Government recognising BSL as a language in its own right in 2004, there have long been calls to give BSL full legal status in Wales.
“Deafness is not a learning difficulty, but deaf children are being disadvantaged by the continuing inequity in outcome.”
Mr Isherwood stressed that the principle of the Bill is “to invest to save, applying early intervention and prevention measures to reduce cost pressures on statutory services further up the line”.
He said:
“If the Senedd agrees to allow me to introduce this Bill today, thereby ensuring that all 4 UK Nations are covered by specific BSL legislation, my team and I will work with the Welsh Government, BSL Signers, public, and voluntary and private sectors, to ensure that its development maximises policy impact and meets needs on a cost-efficient basis”.