The Scottish newspaper The National has reported on a strange case of omission where a reference to accessible services for Deaf people in Scotland, which was given in a quote provided by a Deaf organisation, was removed by DWP.
The removal of the reference to Scotland made the quote look more favourable to DWP, because it referred to how Scotland has moved ahead when it comes to offering Deaf people access to key services.
Read the full story here: http://www.thenational.scot/news/dwp-censors-deaf-groups-reference-to-more-accessible-scottish-services.12664
Extract:
THE UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been slated for removing the words “as they are in Scotland” from a quote in a 760-word press release on sign language services, claiming it would have made it too lengthy.
The DWP had been seeking support from deaf organisations for a new pilot scheme that will allow some benefit claimants to make calls to the department via a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.
Jim Edwards, chairman of the UK Council on Deafness and chief executive of Signature, the deaf communication charity, told the DWP his organisation was “delighted” that it had “taken this step to open up access for deaf people who use BSL”.
In a comment given to the DWP press office, he added: “We trust the pilot will be successful and look forward to more government services becoming accessible, as they are in Scotland.”
However, when the official press release was published on the DWP website, the last four words were missing and all mention of Scotland deleted.
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Cathy
January 22, 2016
Interesting story about Scotland’s BSL Act! But I can’t say that Iam surprised.
I am not sure if the term “brevity” means “of no consequence” but London Parliament would not want reference to Scotland amongst all the heat of other Political points, especially the referendum and the fact that Scotland want IN the EU and thousands in England want OUT!
Personally, I suspect this has far more “power” and the possible real reason for the “brevity!”
England, has far more people in it than Scotland does and therefore far more deaf people, so it is a surprise that any signvideo system has not begun in England first, but this is the catch: as there are far more thousands of hearies there is far more pressure on other services that obviously take precedence in the “boiling cauldron” of pressure on services.
Whereas in Scotland they barely have a tenth of England’s population and therefore the deaf population is going to be just as small so they sail along with things like the Scottish BSL Act!
Scotland has such a tiny population and it is also a given that Scotland get far more per head of population than does England, so its hardly surprising this act got through their Parliament for deaf people. Aren’t they lucky? Sailing along with funding from London’s Parliament! Oh the irony!
I notice on the full story, one Scottish MP has not actually stood up for the Act in quite the way some people expected, but this publicity, however bare or not, gives a BSL Bill in England more exposure. It may not come around as fast as we would like, due to the Political spectrum being so “hot” at the moment: referendum issues; immigration crisis; funding cuts; teacher shortage crisis in education and cuts left, right and centre.
England’s higher population (and increasing by the day!) gives London Parliament a far bigger headache and this most unfortunately impacts on minority groups, whoever they may be.
We can but hope for a British BSL Bill to begin soon, but I for one am not holding my breathe, as Parliament continues to battle with the EU and the immigration crisis that unfortunately appears to have no end!
Tim
January 22, 2016
Just shows how completely out of touch Jim Edwards is.
The *real* controversy is the DWP removing social security from Deaf people, both in and out of work. Though, the story is worth a brief footnote.
Cathy
January 22, 2016
Maybe that has some substance, Tim, but don’t forget loads of other people with disability and without have had benefits removed; not just deaf people. So I doubt we can fully blame that where this Scottish topic is concerned.
Tim
January 22, 2016
Here’s an example of what I mean:
http://www.rnib.org.uk/protect-personal-independence-payments
Compare that with Deaf charity bosses being indifferent to social security cuts from the comfort of their offices.
But why would they be concerned? They have their executive salaries funded by charitable proceeds.
ohdear
January 22, 2016
They have their executive salaries funded by charitable proceeds.
Taxpayers proceeds too.
Toby
January 22, 2016
Cathy,
I had a wee chuckle at some of your points, but otherwise some interesting points at the same time.
Firstly, it’s a known fact that Scotland has been subsiding the rest of the U.K. Scotland is the best performing area within the UK apart from London. It’s a myth developed over time unfortunately.
Secondly, you mentioned Scotland being tiny?! That’s a strange thing tae say because in terms of population, Scotland isn’t the largest or the smallest! Scotland has 5.3 million people and that’s a decent number considering other factors that has played a part in Scotland’s population.
When you look at the history of Deaf developments in the UK, it has normally been London or so that benefited, Scotland came up with BSL, and yet lost out on developing it further in Scotland because it’s regarded as a region by others.
The Scottish BSL Act is way way overdue for Scotland tae be honest considering that Scotland missed out on advancements compared tae elsewhere, if you were Scottish and Deaf, it became even more of a struggle, and my whole family went through this too but we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel although more is needed tae be done.
Who’s the Scottish MP that you were referring tae?
It’s an interesting thought, a British BSL Bill, would that affect the Scottish BSL Act?
The Scottish BSL Bill was largely delayed at first because of legalisation clashing with Westminster, quite a few Deaf people was blaming the Scottish Govt which was incorrect so a British BSL Bill may not be so straightforward in terms of legalisation because with the Tories Govt being keen tae introduce a British Bill of Rights?
I think it’s easier for an English and Welsh BSL Bill although I might be wrong.
Cathy
January 22, 2016
Hahaha!! I’m chuckling at you, Toby! Bless! You think Scotland is subsidising England? Am splitting my sides! How on earth could 5.3m people subsidise over 50m people?!? Give over.
Scotland are very lucky to be bank rolled by London, little wonder independence of Scotland didn’t win through, recently! No surprise there, they can’t afford to lose any monies from London! After all, how would Scotland afford free university tuition fees on their own???
Sorry Toby, I’m not sure of Scottish MPs name but its in the main story that limping chicken have put up. You’ll find it there, if you read the main story.
Iam not referring to the British Bill of Rights, this Bill will replace the Human Rights Act, nothing to do with a new BSL bill in England. Still, as I said such a bill for BSL is highly unlikely to kick off anytime soon as the current economic climate is so volatile coupled with political pressures from all angles, not least the EU and unprecedented immigration.
Deaf people in England are going to have to wait a good while before we are anywhere near a British Sign Language Act, sadly.
Monica
January 22, 2016
they were right to remove the added words. They weren’t asked to make a comparison. The deaf organisation got political. I’m a deaf person who didn’t realise how unprofessional deaf organisations could be until I started working with them
Cathy
January 22, 2016
Hmmm that’s interesting, Monica. I have been aware for some years that deaf organisations are unprofessional in other ways too. Iam not the least surprised by your remark and furthermore it is the main reason I will not work in these deaf organisations.
Toby
January 22, 2016
It’s not the Deaf organisations who removed the words, it was DWP that did it.
Deaf people are pointing at Scotland, and saying look at them, they have got their BSL Act, you wouldn’t like it if your query was dismissed as irrelevant.
The BDA have been saying this and that about the Scottish BSL Act which is naturally understandable, however they bottled it when it came tae supporting the Scottish Govt publicly.
Cathy, Norway is far much more secured economically compared tae the “bigger” countries, and even countries like Uruguay (3 million people) are producing a healthy economic balance sheet 🙂