On Friday, the British Sign Language Bill moved a step closer to becoming law. Rebecca Harris, Castle Point MP, attended the debate in the House of Commons and voted to support the Bill which focuses on improving the lives of those in the deaf community.

Commenting Rebecca Harris said “I was incredibly pleased to support the British Sign Language in Parliament. I am glad that the Government is supporting this legislation, it will make such a difference to the lives of people in the deaf community and seek to improve access to interpretation, ensuring that everyone can access the services we all rely on every day.”

This has been introduced as a Private Members’ Bill by Rosie Cooper MP and has cross-party support. British Sign Language is the primary language for 90,000 deaf people in this country for whom English may be a second language. This Bill will make a huge difference to so many people’s lives by classing BSL as an official language of Great Britain with the ultimate objective of increasing access to BSL services. Ministerial departments will be required to report every three years on their use and facilitation of BSL. The Secretary of State of Work and Pensions will be required to issue guidance to all departments outlining their responsibility to ensure they are accommodating and promoting for the use of BSL. This guidance will undergo consultation with the deaf community and the Bill will also establish a British Sign Language Council, comprised of a majority of deaf signers, as an advisory board.

Alongside this legislation, the Government is working to increase the number of BSL interpreters and will review the Access to Work Scheme that funds workplace adjustments to ensure BSL users receive the support they need. The Department of Education is looking to introduce a BSL GCSE as soon as possible with the content put out for consultation later this year.

You can keep up to date with the stage of the Bill and its publications here: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/2915