Deaf Awareness Week 2021

Early day motion 14, tabled 11 May 2021 by Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 50 members.

That this House celebrates Deaf Awareness Week, which ran from 4-9 May 2021; recognises that there are around 151,000 users of British Sign Language in the UK, about 87,000 of whom are Deaf; notes with concern that too many deaf people in the UK still face social exclusion as a direct result of linguistic exclusion, affecting employment, education and access to healthcare; further notes that it has been 18 years since the Government formally recognised British Sign Language as an official language, however, it has not yet been granted legal status; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation giving legal status to British Sign Language.

Signatures by party: Labour 20, Liberal Democrat 10, Scottish National Party 9, DUP 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Independent 2, Alba 1, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.