British Sign Language (Wales) Bill

The Equality and Social Justice Committee is undertaking Stage 1 scrutiny into the general principles of the British Sign Language (Wales) Bill.

Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

 

Terms of reference

The Committee would like to hear your views on the general principles of the British Sign Language (Wales) Bill and the need for legislation to deliver the stated policy intention.

In coming to a view you may wish to consider the Bill’s key provisions which consist of:

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>>> A duty on Welsh Ministers to promote and facilitate the use of BSL;

>>> A duty on Welsh Ministers to publish a National BSL Strategy;

>>> A duty on Welsh Ministers to publish guidance;

>>> A duty on specified public bodies to publish BSL plans;

>>> The appointment of a BSL adviser;

>>> Reporting duties to be imposed on the public bodies and Welsh Ministers in relation to these duties;

>>> The appropriateness of powers in the Bill for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation.

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You may also wish to consider:

 

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>>>Any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions and whether the Bill takes account of them;

>>>The appropriateness of the powers in the Bill for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation;

>>>Whether there are any unintended consequences arising from the Bill; and

>>>The financial implications of the Bill.

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If you wish to submit evidence, please use the online Form either to give responses to individual questions or to upload a finished document/video. Alternatively send your submission by e-mail or by post to the addresses listed below. However you intend to submit, please do so by the deadline of 12 September 2025.

 

Providing Written Evidence

The Senedd has two official languages, Welsh and English.

 

In line with the Senedd’s Official Languages Scheme the Committee requests that documents or written responses to consultations intended for publication or use in Senedd proceedings are submitted bilingually. When documents or written responses are not submitted bilingually, we will publish in the language submitted, stating that it has been received in that language only.

 

We expect other organisations to implement their own standards or schemes and to comply with their statutory obligation.

 

Please see guidance for those providing evidence for committees.

 

In addition to the general call for evidence we are also welcoming responses in BSL – these must be submitted via video upload through our online form and you will find more information about this process on our website.

 

Disclosure of information

Please ensure that you have considered the Senedd’s policy on disclosure of information before submitting information to the Committee. For responses in BSL we have also issued a Supplementary Privacy Notice.