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.
4. Authority Plans & Accountability & Monitoring
4.1 Recommendation 5-8/paragraph 47, 48, 56, and 57
Paragraph 47: The Committee recognises the importance of effective consultation with Deaf communities and of collaborative working between listed authorities, particularly those covering the same geographical areas. We welcome the positive examples of such work taking place but are concerned at suggestions that this has regressed in some areas and that specialist roles are being discontinued by some authorities. Whilst the Committee is keenly aware of the budgetary restrictions being faced by local government, we consider that such roles should not be removed given the importance of them in acting as a conduit for engagement with BSL users and other less-privileged groups in society.
We therefore invite the Scottish Government to confirm what further actions it will take to promote examples of best practice and encourage all listed authorities to adopt a similar best-practice approach.
Paragraph 48: The Committee is also concerned by suggestions from the alliance that Deafblind inclusion from some authorities can be “tokenistic” although we welcome its recognition that others have worked hard to consult and engage with Deafblind BSL users. This approach is to be encouraged. We therefore invite the Scottish Government to confirm what actions it intends to take to help promote examples of best practice on Deafblind engagement to all listed authorities and encourage them to adopt a similar approach.
Paragraph 56: The Committee understands the Scottish Government’s reluctance to play an overly-directive role and appreciates the importance of having local flexibility to address local priorities but is disappointed that only 62% of listed authorities had met their statutory duties by publishing BSL translations of their plans. We therefore invite the Scottish Government to consider what further steps could be taken to ensure compliance with legislative requirements by all listed authorities.
Paragraph 57: The Committee also welcomes the DFM’s recognition that consistency of high-quality service provision across the country is necessary and considers that robust monitoring is needed to achieve this. Bearing in mind the caveats above, and the actions already being taken, we invite the Scottish Government to further consider what additional steps could be taken to improve accountability for the delivery of local plans, including whether requiring three-year progress updates from listed authorities would be beneficial.
4.1.1 Decision
Accept
4.1.2 Scottish Government Response
The Scottish Government does not have a regulatory function under the BSL (Scotland) Act 2015, and it is the responsibility of listed authorities under to meet their legal duties under the Act.
We will fund the
The purpose of the BSL Network is:
1. To enable opportunities to share good practice, resources and raise questions and challenges around implementing local BSL plans.
2. To encourage and facilitate partnership working and efficient use of resources and people’s time.
3. To enable efficient connections between Scottish Government and those responsible for the national BSL plan, and organisations/people responsible for local BSL plans.
4. To enable opportunities for improved data collection and analysis around the impact of BSL local plans (and wider monitoring and evaluation work).
5. To enable greater public accountability on progress towards the implementation of local plans.
This will complement the existing activity delivered by BDA Scotland, that supports listed authorities to:
1. Engage with BSL users within their local communities in the development and delivery of local BSL plans.
2. Identify and share good practice for engaging with BSL users.
Support the delivery of actions within plans by capturing the lived experience of BSL users.
4.2 Recommendation 9/paragraph 58
For many Deaf people, BSL is not an additional language but their only language. That difference is crucial. Whilst investment in Gaelic is rightly celebrated, the same parity of esteem has not been extended to BSL. Whilst recognising the need for full consultation with the Deaf community, the Committee therefore invites the Scottish Government to respond to suggestions that a national body along the lines of Bòrd na Gàidhlig or a “National BSL Centre of Excellence” would help bring greater oversight and clarity on financial investment in BSL along with greater parity of esteem with Gaelic and other minority languages.
4.2.1 Decision
Consider further
4.2.2 Scottish Government response
While the committee has not outlined the function, remit or alignment of a BSL National Centre of Excellence within the existing Scottish landscape, the idea merits further consideration on the added value this would create for BSL users in Scotland.
Through our Equality and Human Rights Fund, we provide funding to British Deaf Association (BDA) Scotland, Deafblind Scotland, and Scottish Ethnic Minority Deaf Charity (SEMDC). This helps to facilitate vital community engagement with policy both at a national and local level, as well as provide support, advocacy, and engagement with BSL users across Scotland.
In addition, we engage with other key partners including Deaf Action, the National Deaf Children’s Society, and Health and Social Care Alliance (The ALLIANCE) Scotland, to gather feedback and evidence from the BSL community that informs the delivery of the BSL National Plan 2023-29. It is the Scottish Government’s view that we would not want to divert resources from community organisations to fund the Committee’s idea for a national body.
More detailed scoping would be required on the cost associated with the establishment and operation of a BSL National Centre for Excellence, its purpose and alignment with existing organisations and structures within the BSL landscape in Scotland. The Scottish Government commits to exploring this concept further.