British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 - recommendations: SG response
Sets out a range of government actions in response to recommendations made by the Equalities, Human Rights, and Civil Justice report into the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015, the BSL National Plan 2023-2029, and BSL Local Plans by listed authorities.
1. Foreword
BSL translation of the Scottish Government response
The British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 requires Scottish Ministers to “promote, and facilitate the promotion of, the use and understanding of British Sign Language (BSL)”, and to publish national plans in accordance with the Act. In the ten years since its passage, the Scottish Government has published two national plans, alongside local BSL plans produced by listed authorities. We acknowledge the significant and sustained contributions of the Deaf and Deafblind communities, interpreters, practitioners, and representative organisations, whose work has delivered tangible improvements to the daily lives of BSL users. The Committee’s inquiry has provided a valuable opportunity to recognise which actions have succeeded and to identify where further progress is required.
The Scottish Government’s British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan 2023–29 sets out a clear and ambitious programme of actions across ten priority areas. The plan places a strong focus on children, young people and their families; health and wellbeing; the celebration of Deaf culture; and the removal of accessibility barriers across transport, democratic participation, and access to justice. These priorities reflect what BSL users themselves have told us matters most. We are firmly committed to delivering actions that will strengthen equality, expand opportunities, and improve outcomes for BSL users.
In reviewing the Committee’s report, we assessed each recommendation against two key factors:
- The extent to which it aligns with the priority areas and actions in the BSL National Plan 2023–29; and
- Its overall deliverability, including resource and cost implications.
We are clear that our BSL National Plan is not static. We will continue to build on the actions it contains and take the steps necessary to deliver sustainable, long-term improvements for BSL users. The Committee’s findings will assist us in progressing this agenda to ensure the full ambitions of the Act are achieved. To do so, we must remain realistic about the barriers BSL users face, and we must address these barriers in a coordinated way by building on work already underway across communities, listed authorities, and at the national level.
I thank the Committee and all who contributed evidence to the Inquiry for their analysis and commitment to advancing this important area of policy.
Kate Forbes
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic