A legal expert has welcomed the news that British Sign Language (BSL) is set to become a recognised language in England, Wales and Scotland, after a Bill with cross-party support received its third reading in the House of Lords.

The BSL Bill, introduced to the UK parliament by Rosie Cooper MP last year, is likely to pass into law following Royal Assent after the government backed the proposed legislation. The Bill was first introduced on 16 June 2021 and passed through the House of Commons on 17 March 2022, receiving unanimous cross-party support. Figures from the British Deaf Association suggest that 151,000 people use BSL in the UK, 87,000 of whom have hearing loss.

Amy Hextell, equality and employment law expert expert at Pinsent Masons, said: “This is very welcome news for the deaf community and users of British Sign Language, and something for employers to embrace as well.”

Once it passes into law, the BSL Act will recognise BSL as a language of England, Wales and Scotland in its own right. Equality law is devolved in Northern Ireland, where both British and Irish Sign Language (ISL) are used, meaning the BSL Act will not apply there. Under the Act, the secretary of state for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be required to regularly report on what actions relevant government departments have taken to promote or facilitate the use of BSL in their communications with the public.

The Act will also require the DWP to issue guidance, developed together with...

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