Sign Language

(asked on 7th February 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues in the Department for Education on the steps they are taking to issue guidance to parents of deaf children on British Sign Language.


Answered by
Chloe Smith Portrait
Chloe Smith
This question was answered on 10th February 2022

As the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, I engage across government on disability issues and meet with Departmental Ministerial Champions on a regular basis. I recently engaged with Department for Education officials at a Roundtable as part of the preparation for supporting Rosie Cooper’s current Private Members Bill on BSL. My officials are also in discussion with other government departments, including the Department for Education, about the provision of BSL interpretation services.

I have been working closely with Rosie Cooper MP to support the aims and development of her Private Members Bill which I believe is a major step forward in recognising BSL as a language for D/deaf people in its own right.

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