Diolch, Llywydd. I move the motion and I'm happy to propose this motion and explain why I believe the Senedd should agree it. For many people in Wales, British Sign Language is the language they use in everyday life, but we know that for many they have been disabled because public services do not or fail to communicate with them through British Sign Language. For the deaf community, language is just one distinguishing feature of their culture. A more equal Wales is one that enables people to fulfil their potential, no matter what their background or circumstances. It's also one of our collective national well-being goals in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and this is underpinned by a long-standing commitment to the social model of disability.

For users of BSL, the ability to get on with their lives unimpeded by communication barriers is fundamental, and, when Welsh Government adopted BSL as an official language in 2004, it was in recognition of this truth, and I'm proud of the progress we've collectively made in Wales in promoting the use of BSL in how we communicate, and I fully recognise there is much more to do.

This Bill, whilst limited to the promotion and facilitation of BSL in the communication of UK Government bodies to the public will, when implemented, make an important contribution to the lives of BSL users and our objectives for a more equal Wales. As such, it will improve equality of opportunity for people in Wales, and this is why it does require the consent of the Senedd and why I'm supporting that consent being offered.

The Bill has three operative provisions. It makes BSL an official language in England, Scotland and Wales, and this status takes effect through the other provisions in the Bill, which require UK Ministers to report on the promotion and facilitation of the use of BSL in the communications with the public of UK Government departments, and the Secretary of State to publish related guidance.

The Bill does not prevent the Senedd from legislating in this area should it choose to do so. There are carve-outs in the Bill for the devolved public authorities and for Welsh Ministers, and it's right that we can decide on a comprehensive Welsh approach to suit our own approach. The Welsh Government is currently working with our disability taskforce to develop an approach, following the British Deaf Association audit we commissioned in February 2021, and I will say we commissioned that in response to the private Member's Bill that was put forward by Mark Isherwood at that time. We then said that we wanted to take this forward in this way, doing this British Deaf Association audit, and now we have the disability rights taskforce to help move this forward.

So, the provisions in this Bill that we're debating this afternoon in terms of the LCM will make a positive contribution to the lives of BSL users, which we should welcome alongside our Welsh approach. I'd like to thank both the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee and the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee for their scrutiny of the Bill and legislative consent memorandum. Obviously, I accept there's much more to do, but this is a positive contribution, and I urge the Senedd to agree to its application to Wales. Diolch.