North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has called on the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery, Julie James MS, for legislative time to progress his British Sign Language (Wales) Bill through the legislative stages before the end of this Senedd term (April 2026).
Mr Isherwood raised the matter in the Chamber during today’s meeting of the Senedd, following a Statement by the Counsel General on The Legislative Programme, when he also called for measures to ensure the Bill goes further than any other BSL legislation in the UK.
Emphasising the need for the new legislation, he referred to a Deaf man living near Mold who died from Cancer and whose daughter stated that his care was impacted by a severe lack of sign language provision.
Speaking in the Senedd Chamber, Mr Isherwood said:
“I thank the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and the Counsel General, yourself, for inviting me to a series of constructive meetings regarding my British Sign Language (Wales) Bill over the last few months. As you know, the Bill as now drafted will place a statutory duty on Welsh Ministers to promote, support and report on the use of BSL throughout Wales.
“The Bill outlines a comprehensive framework, including the preparation of a BSL Strategy, guidance for public bodies and the creation of BSL plans for key public institutions. It also requires the appointment of a statutory BSL Adviser, who will advise Welsh Ministers.
“Will the Counsel General confirm her agreement with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and I that this adviser would be a BSL user themselves, and that they would have the power to appoint a BSL Advisory Panel, which would mean that this legislation would go further than any other BSL legislation in the UK?
“The need for this legislation was once again highlighted by the reports last week of the Deaf man, living near Mold, who died from Cancer and whose daughter stated that his care was impacted by a severe lack of sign language provision.
“This Language legislation will help make Wales a more inclusive place for BSL users, enabling them to participate in public life and access essential services.
“Finally, therefore, will the Counsel General also confirm that legislative time will be made available in the remainder of this Senedd term to allow my Bill to progress through the legislative stages, and does she agree that we must get this Legislation right, with lived experience at the heart of the Bill, for the BSL and wider Deaf community?”
In her response, the Counsel General said:
“I'm absolutely delighted to be able to confirm ‘yes’ to all of your questions. It isn't, obviously, in my Statement today, because it's not a Government Bill—it's your Bill—but the Government will absolutely work with you to make sure that it goes through. We are in absolute agreement on it, and we will make sure that the legislative time is made available.”