Prime Minister meets All-Party Group on Deafness

Added 14 February 2008

On 6 February 2008, the Prime Minister met with sign language users and members of the All-Party Group on Deafness to discuss the legal status of British Sign Language.

Issues discussed included the importance of support for families, the training of interpreters and the better use of technology, which will improve access to services, employment and cultural activities for sign language users.

Lord Andrew Adonis, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools and Learners, has been asked by the Prime Minister to look at the issues raised at the meeting, including a review of the BSL Futures Project undertaken in Wales to increase the provision of interpreters.

Jim Edwards, CACDP Chief Executive, commented: “Accessible services like health and education are an important equality and human rights issue. True equality is impeded because we have so few interpreters. The Prime Minister’s interest in the issue puts a welcome spotlight on the immediate need to increase, significantly, the number of interpreters in the UK."