BSL Act Now: British Sign Language Bill published ahead of second reading in Commons

Parliament has released the draft British Sign Language (BSL) Bill, introduced by Labour MP Rosie Cooper last year, ahead of its second reading in the House of Commons tomorrow.

The proposed legislation, which would grant legal status to BSL if It becomes law, was brought forward by the West Lancashire politician as a Private Members’ Bill – with support from the British Deaf Association (BDA).

The long title of the Bill, available on the UK Parliament website, reads: “[This is] a Bill to declare British Sign Language an official language of the United Kingdom; to provide for a British Sign Language Council to promote and advise on the use of BSL; to establish principles for the use of BSL in public services [and] to require public bodies to have regard to those principles and to guidance issued by the Council; and for connected purposes.”

The seven-page document begins by declaring BSL is recognised “as a language of England, Wales and Scotland”. Accompanying ‘explanatory notes’ prepared by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) states this is because “there are two distinct sign languages used in Northern Ireland” which are BSL and Irish Sign Language.

The second section of the Bill requires the Work and Pensions Secretary – currently Thérèse Coffey – to “prepare and publish a British Sign Language report for each reporting period”, with the first covering two months from the passing of the Bill until 30 April 2023.

Future reports would then begin the day after the last reporting period concludes, with the end date being one “the Secretary of State decides” but no later than three years.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by British Deaf Association – BDA (@britishdeafassociation)

However, it goes on to state the secretary must publish the BSL report no more than three months after an end date.

Explaining the reports, the Bill says: “[It] is a report describing what each relevant government department has done to promote or facilitate the use of British Sign Language in its communications with the public.

“[These] include, in particular: any public announcement which is makes about policy or changes to the law; the publication by [the department] of any plan, strategy, consultation document or consultation response, or any explanatory or supporting materials; and its use of press conferences, social media or government website to publicise any of its activities or policies.”

It goes on to add the section does not cover “communications with individual members of the public” or anything “which the relevant government department does not intend to be shared with the public at large”.

A requirement for departments to consider work done to “promote or facilitate” BSL in press conferences comes amid an ongoing campaign for the UK Government to provide an in-person sign language interpreter for its Downing Street briefings.

The initiative, known as Where Is The Interpreter, saw the Cabinet Office taken to court in the summer of last year – with a High Court judge ruling the UK Government had breached the Equality Act when two data briefings in 2020 came without BSL interpretation.

The Cabinet Office, Home Office, Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care are amongst those listed as “relevant government department” – a list which the Work and Pensions Secretary can amend if a department changes its name or organisational structure.

The third section of the Bill concerns producing guidance on the use of BSL, while the fourth and final section addresses when different sections of the Bill, if it becomes an Act, would come into effect.

In the accompanying explanatory notes, the DWP said it intends to “establish a non-statutory board” for the BSL Council, who would draft up guidance to public authorities.

The Commons debate is believed to take place tomorrow afternoon, while Deaf people and allies attend a rally in Parliament Square to support the Bill.

Photo: UK Parliament.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.

---

Update – 15:45: In a statement to The Limping Chicken, Lynn Stewart-Taylor said it would be an “incredible year for the sign language community” if the bill is passed through Parliament.

“Finally included in society as one, working together, accepting different languages and culture and making us feel like we belong in society – as for many years we have always felt like an outsider, forgotten and worthless.

“This needs to change, and it can change starting from tomorrow!”