With Members of all parties voting in favour of the motion each time, demonstrating a clear appetite for such BSL legislation across the Senedd Chamber, and with BSL signers, D/deaf people and communities across Wales continuing to ask me to bring forward a BSL Bill in Wales, I'm grateful for this opportunity to now seek the Senedd’s agreement to introduce this Bill. Following the initial ballot result allowing me to do this, initial consultation was sought, and support was received from several organisations and individuals, including BSL signers from across Wales, British Deaf Association Cymru, Sense, Deaf Film Club, Centre of Sign-Sight-Sound in north Wales, Deaf Gathering Cymru, Our Visual World and Llanelli Deaf Club, some of whom are in the public gallery today, so welcome—croeso.

In October 2018, calls were made at the north Wales Lend Me Your Ears 2018 conference for BSL legislation in Wales, looking at the 2015 BSL (Scotland) Act and their national BSL plan, published in October 2017, establishing a national advisory group, including up to 10 deaf people who use BSL as their preferred or first language. The BSL (Scotland) Act was passed on 17 September 2015, marking a new era in the deaf community’s campaign for the legal recognition of the needs of BSL signers across the UK. I was encouraged when Labour MP Rosie Cooper introduced her British Sign Language Bill in the UK Parliament, co-sponsored by Conservative Lord Holmes of Richmond, when this secured the UK Government's support, and when it was passed in March 2022 and gained Royal Assent the following month.

The UK Act recognises BSL as a language of England, Wales and Scotland, requires the Secretary of State to report on the promotion and facilitation of the use of BSL by ministerial Government departments, and requires guidance to be issued in relation to BSL. However, although the UK Act creates a duty for the UK Government to prepare and publish BSL reports describing what Government departments have done to promote the use of BSL in their communications with the public, the UK Act specifically excludes reporting on matters devolved to Scotland and Wales. The Act does not extend the reporting or guidance duty to the Governments of Wales and Scotland. On 20 February this year, the communities Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive outlined his plans for the development of sign language in Northern Ireland, including bringing forward a sign language Bill. He said he was committed to ensuring that members of the deaf community have the same rights and opportunities as those in the hearing community, and are able to access services in their own language.

Therefore, if my Bill does not proceed, Wales will be the only part of the UK that is not covered by specific BSL legislation. The purpose of this Bill is to make provision to promote and facilitate the use of BSL and its tactile forms in Wales, improve access to education, health and public services in BSL, and support the removal of barriers that exist for deaf people and their families in education, health, public services, support services and in the workplace. This is a language Bill that supports Welsh deaf leadership on all BSL matters in Wales.

This Bill aligns with the seven well-being goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 as they relate to the long-term needs of BSL users and signers of all ages. This Bill would also support existing commitments, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Regarding terminology, the British Deaf Association or BDA are calling for the term ‘BSL users’ to be replaced with ‘BSL signers’, and this proposed used of terminology would be included in the Bill’s consultation.