A Bill to recognise British Sign Language (BSL) as a language of England, Scotland and Wales passed unopposed by Peers on Friday 25 March on its second reading in the House of Lords. It will now move on to Committee Stage.
The BSL Bill, which was brought forward by Labour MP Rosie Cooper, herself a child of Deaf parents, as a Private Member’s Bill and has since gained cross-party support, was introduced by Lord Holmes of Richmond (Conservative) on Monday 21 March.
If the Bill passes into law, a BSL Act would represent a positive step forward for the Deaf community in Britain in terms of the recognition, facilitation and wider public awareness of their language.
A BSL Act would:
- recognise British Sign Language as a language of England, Wales and Scotland*;
- require the Secretary of State to report on the promotion and facilitation of the use of British Sign Language by ministerial government departments; and
- require guidance to be issued in relation to British Sign Language, setting out how government departments and public bodies must meet the needs of the estimated 87,000** Deaf people in the UK for whom BSL is a first or preferred language.
(*The BSL Bill does not include provisions covering Northern Ireland, which is in the unique position of having two national sign languages – British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language - and is preparing to introduce its own BSL / ISL Bill through the NI Assembly.)
(**That number does not include hearing people who can sign, such as the family members, friends and colleagues of Deaf people, BSL interpreters, teachers of the Deaf, and so on. The British Deaf Association estimates that British Sign Language is the first or preferred language of around 151,000 people in the UK).
David Buxton, Chair of the British Deaf Association said:
“British Sign Language is Britain’s fourth indigenous language, after English, Welsh, and Scottish Gaelic. It is time for BSL be accorded the same status and legal protection.
“The BSL Bill presents a real opportunity for change, to finally break down avoidable communication barriers and to give Deaf people and their language – BSL – the recognition, inclusion, and equality that they deserve.
“If the BSL Bill passes into law, it won’t be the end of the road – it will be the start of the road.
We are ready to work hand-in-hand with the UK government to redesign public services that meet the unique needs of the 151,000 people who have British Sign Language as their first or preferred language.
“We also hope that the legal recognition of BSL will encourage many more people across the UK to learn British Sign Language and go on to become interpreters, bilingual professionals and allies of the Deaf community. BSL can bring us all together as a society.”
