British Sign Language Bill progresses to Lords committee stage following unanimous support

A Bill to legally recognise British Sign Language (BSL) cleared its latest Parliamentary stage on Friday, when it received overwhelming support at its second reading in the House of Lords.

The latest stage in the Private Member’s Bill – first introduced in the Commons by Labour MP Rosie Cooper last year – follows its first reading on Monday.

In the first-ever Lords session to come with BSL interpretation, the Bill’s sponsor Lord Holmes of Richmond said: “The purpose of the Bill, my lords, [is] in many ways, incredibly straightforward. Simply this: to include BSL signers.

“In the British Sign Language Bill, the honourable lady, Rosie Cooper, has given us a barrel of a Bill. A barrel of a Bill from which can flow the finest brew of all: inclusion.”

Meanwhile Baroness Grey-Thompson praised “the power of television” and Strictly to “educate” viewers in her contribution, and hoped the Government’s stance on only providing on-screen interpretation for its briefings “could change in the future”.

Criticism was also aimed at the Government by Liberal Democrat and DeafKidz International ambassador, Lord Bruce of Bennachie.

The politician, who has a deaf daughter, told peers: “I’ve been disappointed that on occasion, ministers have sought to deprioritise sign language quoting limited numbers. I believe the numbers are irrelevant for our deaf fellow citizens.

“BSL is their passport to work, relationships and participation in the wider community. They have a right for that to be recognised.”

Speaking for the opposition, shadow health and social care spokesperson Baroness Merron said: “This will be a tremendous opportunity for promoting opportunities for those who are disabled, up and down our country.

“I have been very moved by some of the stories that I’ve heard from people advocating for this Bill. Stories of gifted Deaf people being denied opportunities, because they are users of BSL. Tales of children having to interpret for their parents because no BSL signer was available, and as a result being party to sensitive discussions such as health diagnosis.

“[These are] frankly situations in which they should never ever been involved. This should not be happening in our country in 2022.”

Responding on behalf of the UK Government, work and pensions minister Baroness Stedman-Scott said it was a “special day” for peers.

She said: “The Government is committed to supporting all people with a disability, including deaf people, to lead fulfilled, independent lives. For Deaf people, this must include the ability to communicate with others through BSL or other forms of Deaf communication.

“Let’s just be absolutely clear: we want this Bill to go through, as it is very important. Expectations are high, commitment is high and […] if there are any issues any noble lord has, would you please come and see us?

“We’ll meet you, so that when we get to committee stage, there’ll be no amendments and the bill will pass in time for great celebration by the people for whom this will make a great change to their life.”

Baroness Stedman-Scott also repeated a previous announcement that a consultation on a BSL GCSE would be published “later in 2022”, and  that it “wouldn’t be appropriate to make an exception” for making BSL an official language,

“Other languages of the UK such as English do not have official recognition,” she said.

The Lords’ discussion comes after the Bill passed its final stages of the Commons last week, with Ms Cooper telling a crowd of supporters in Trafalgar Square that “my job is at an end – yours starts”.

The Bill will now move on to the Lords committee stage, with a date to be confirmed.

Photo: ParliamentLive.TV

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.

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Correction – 26/03/22: The initial version of this article incorrectly stated that Lord Bruce is a child of deaf adults (CODA). He is in fact a parent of a deaf daughter, and the piece has now been corrected to reflect that fact.