Following many months of discussion, at their meeting in the Scottish Parliament in December 2009, the Cross Party Group on Deafness approved a consultation paper on MSP Cathie Craigie's proposed BSL Bill.

The consultation was formally launched by Cathie Craigie MSP and the Cross Party Group on Deafness on 8th July 2010 and runs until 29th October 2010.

The UK Government formally recognised BSL as a language in its own right on 18th March 2003. This is a date that is well known within the Deaf community. While recognition of BSL is good, the language still has no standing in law.

The BSL Bill consultation is the first step in trying to ensure that the language has the same protection, status and rights as any other indigenous language in Scotland.

Cathie Craigie MSP, Convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Deafness, said:

"I am pleased that the consultation period on my proposed BSL Bill has begun. It will give fellow politicians, community groups, public bodies, deaf organisations and the general public a chance to scrutinise the proposals and give opinions on them.

"British Sign Language is the first, or preferred, language of many Deaf people in Scotland, but it does not have equal status with English or Gaelic. I believe this has to change. This Bill would establish British Sign Language as one of Scotland's official languages, providing a degree of equality to BSL users, creating better awareness of BSL, as well as promoting it throughout Scottish heritage, and permitting it to be taught in schools.

"Since the commencement of Devolution 11 years ago, the Parliament has been at the forefront in seeking equal opportunities across the length and breadth of Scotland. I am hoping that this Bill will provide accessibility, opportunity and fairness to all BSL users in Scotland and rid the existing inequality."

A BDA spokesperson added: "This is great news which the British Deaf Association fully supports. This Bill aims to secure BSL as one of Scotland's official languages, commanding equal respect with English and Gaelic. It will help provide equality to BSL users, creating better awareness of BSL, as well as promoting it throughout Scottish heritage, and permitting it to be taught in schools.

"We urge other deaf organisations, community groups, public bodies and the general public to take a look at the consultation and respond accordingly before the deadline of 29th October."

For more information about the consultation and how to respond, go to the Scottish Parliament website on the Proposals for Members' Bills page at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/MembersBills/index.htm or contact Cathie Craigie at Cathie.Craigie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk by telephone at 01236 825372 or by fax on 01236 820556.