A number of additional amendments were put forward this afternoon in the Stage 3 Proceedings of Mark Isherwood MS's British Sign Language (Wales) Bill, including some aimed at ensuring the Deaf Community is involved in the development of the key outputs from the Bill.
All of the Amendments proposed by Mr. Isherwood were passed by the Senedd.
The British Sign Language (Wales) Bill, introduced by Mr Isherwood in July 2025, aims to promote, facilitate, and protect the use of BSL in Wales.
It seeks to remove communication barriers for deaf people in public services, requiring a National Strategy, a BSL National Advisor, and a dedicated Advisory Panel. It is considered a progressive, landmark piece of legislation.
Additional Amendments are debated and voted on at Stage 3 of the Senedd legislative process, ahead of the Final Vote at Stage 4, which is scheduled for 11th March.
Speaking in the Senedd today, Mr Isherwood said:
"Amendments 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are all tabled with the purpose of ensuring that representatives of BSL signers are involved in the process of preparing the BSL Strategy and the BSL Plans from the outset, and are kept involved throughout that process.
"The term ‘co-production’ has not been used in the amendments because of advice I have received regarding the difficulty of legally defining that term. However, ensuring the co-production of the Strategy and BSL Plans is very much the intent of these amendments – and what is set out in the amendments is very much in line with the principles of co-production, for which I have long been a champion.
"Co-production is underpinned by principles such as equality, diversity, mutual respect, and shared power.
"In Wales, these principles are embedded in frameworks like the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which promotes voice and control for individuals in shaping services that affect them.
"Active listening is a key enabler of these principles — it helps shift the dynamic from ‘we ask, you answer’ to ‘we listen, we learn, and we act together’.
"Co-production can play a valuable – or even essential – role in the development and delivery of public services.
"It goes further than consultation alone and would ensure that the deaf community was involved in the development of the key outputs from the Bill."
"That is why these amendments, with the emphasis on involving the deaf community from the start, are vital in ensuring the successful delivery of the BSL Strategy and BSL Plans."
Speaking afterwards, Mr Isherwood said:
"My BSL Bill is not just a piece of legislation – it is a platform for delivering better support and access to services for BSL users.
"Impacted by a lack of sign language provision, Deaf people in Wales suffer serious inequalities.
"This language legislation aims to help make Wales a more inclusive place for BSL users, enabling them to participate in public life and access essential services."
