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.
14. Civil Justice
14.1 Recommendation 30/paragraph 121
Whilst the Committee received limited feedback on civil justice proceedings, we are concerned at suggestions that the civil courts are lagging behind the criminal courts in terms of access to BSL interpreters and invite the Scottish Government to respond to these comments.
14.1.1 Decision
Decline
14.1.2 Scottish Government Response
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTCS) have informed us they were made aware last year of the issues regarding difficulties accessing BSL interpreters in civil courts and that this has now been resolved, stating that anyone who requires a BSL interpreter will be provided with one in both civil and criminal courts. As listed authority under the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015, SCTCS produced their own BSL Plan which aims to ensure BSL interpreters are readily available in both civil and criminal courts, and they are continuing to work with BSL service providers to deliver this outcome.