Overview

This bill establishes an independent Council for Communication Support on Deafness. The Council will assess communication support provision for deaf people across the UK, identify shortcomings, and recommend improvements to policy and practice, aiming to close the attainment gap experienced by deaf children and young people.

Description

The bill creates the Council for Communication Support on Deafness, composed of a chair and six other members, a majority of whom must be deaf (including at least one fluent British Sign Language user). The Secretary of State, after a pre-appointment hearing with the Work and Pensions Committee, will appoint the members.

Council Objectives

The Council's main objective is to assess communication support provision for deaf individuals and make recommendations. This includes assessing various forms of support (lip-speaking, BSL, other sign languages, deafblind communication methods). Subsidiary objectives include: establishing a British Sign Language Board; creating Accessible Language and Communications Action Plans; and setting up a stakeholder panel of deaf individuals to advise on strategy implementation. The Council will also conduct research and recommend improvements in areas such as the availability of qualified professionals, their use by public bodies, recognition of BSL as an indigenous language, and support for deaf children and families. The Council may also explore the possibility of devolving communication support budgets to individual users.

Funding and Accountability

The Council's budget will be determined by the Secretary of State, with funding provided by the Department of Work and Pensions. The Council will produce an annual report to be submitted to the Department and laid before Parliament. The Secretary of State will be responsible for providing Parliamentary responses to the Council's reports. The Council's accounts will be subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and scrutiny by the Work and Pensions Select Committee.

Government Spending

The bill will result in increased government spending on the establishment and operation of the Council for Communication Support on Deafness. The exact figures are not specified in the bill, but it will involve the cost of salaries, administration, research and other activities undertaken by the Council. This spending will be subject to Parliamentary approval.

Groups Affected

• Deaf individuals: Will benefit from improved assessment and advocacy for better communication support, potentially leading to improved educational attainment and employment prospects.
• Deaf children and their families: Stand to gain from better access to appropriate communication support and educational resources.
• Public bodies and private companies: Will be affected by the Council's recommendations and may face requirements to enhance communication support services for deaf individuals.
• Communication professionals: May experience increased demand for their services as a result of the Council's work.
• British Sign Language (BSL) users: Will be directly impacted by the establishment of a British Sign Language Board.
• UK Government: Will incur additional spending to fund the Council and implement its recommendations.

Powered by nyModel