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Government Departments: Sign Language

Question for Department for Work and Pensions

UIN HL8041, tabled on 21 May 2018

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they recognise sign language as a valid and legal means of communication with all Government departments.

Answered on

5 June 2018

British Sign Language (BSL) was recognised as a language in its own right by the UK Government in March 2003. All Government departments are under a legal duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments when communicating with disabled people, which might include the provision of BSL interpreters.