Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK Government formally recognised BSL as a language in its own right on 18 March 2003. The Equality Act 2010 and the public sector equality duty cover provision for accessing services by users of BSL.
What recent assessment has been made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to provide British Sign Language with full legal status?
On 18 March 2003, the UK Government formally recognised that British Sign Language is a language in its own right. Provision for accessing services by users of BSL are already covered by the Equality Act 2010 and the public sector equality duty.
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Assessment & feedback
The assessment of merits for legislative proposals was not addressed, instead focusing on existing recognitions and provisions.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent, Feras Al-Moubayed, is struggling with a bank dispute due to lack of BSL support, leading to missed Financial Ombudsman Service deadlines and significant stress.
My constituent Feras Al-Moubayed is engaged in a dispute with a high street bank but has been unsuccessful in his attempts to secure time with a BSL interpreter. He has missed several Financial Ombudsman Service deadlines due to this lack of support, causing considerable stress and anxiety. If the Minister will not commit to bringing forward legislative proposals for full legal status of British Sign Language, will he commit to providing more interim provisions to assist people like Mr Al-Moubayed?
I thank the hon. Member for raising that matter; I encourage her also to raise it with our Treasury colleagues, because it sounds like additional support is needed. On the broad principle, I welcome the fact that the hon. Member for West Lancashire (Rosie Cooper), who has a great deal of personal experience in this area, is looking at a potential private Member's Bill, for which I have offered my full support by hosting a roundtable with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, stakeholders and cross-Government officials to look at how the public sector equality duty and the Equality Act 2010 are or are not providing sufficient support for those who rely on BSL. I welcome all support in that area.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific commitment to provide additional interim measures was not directly addressed, instead offering general support and inviting discussions with Treasury colleagues.
Response accuracy