The British Sign Language (BSL) Act 2022 received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022. It was introduced to the House of Commons as a Private Members’ Bill by Rosie Cooper MP and gained cross-party and government support.
The act legally recognises BSL as a language of England, Scotland and Wales (but not Northern Ireland, where equality law is devolved). It also requires the government to begin reporting on the use of BSL by ministerial departments in their public communications.
This publication is the first report to that end, covering the period from 28 June 2022 to 30 April 2023, as set out in part 2 of the act.
