Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20059, in the name of Karen Adam, on behalf of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, ...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the opportunity to open the debate on behalf of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee on our recent report on the British Sign L...

Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) SNP

Looking back on the legislation as someone who was involved in it at the Government end, I think that Karen Adam touches on an important point, which is the ...

Karen Adam SNP

I absolutely agree with Alasdair Allan. That has been part of the understanding that we have been trying to get across to people that BSL is not just a suppo...

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes) SNP

It is important to have this debate to reflect on the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee’s report, and to mark the 10-year anniversary of t...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Will the Deputy First Minister take an intervention?

Kate Forbes SNP

I would love a challenge from Martin Whitfield.

Martin Whitfield Lab

I have no challenge. Does the Deputy First Minister agree that part of the committee’s report suggests that the momentum behind BSL has been lost, particular...

Kate Forbes SNP

I certainly think that the committee’s report and its scrutiny have given BSL added impetus. To be blunt, I do not think that we can ever have enough momentu...

Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

The Deputy First Minister has said that the quality of provision differs across Scotland, so can she explain why she does not support the establishment of a ...

Kate Forbes SNP

I think that I mentioned in committee that we are certainly interested in exploring that further. For me, the key is not whether I think that it is a good id...

Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I am pleased to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives and also to speak as a member of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Commi...

Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I offer my thanks to the committee for all the important work that it carried out before publishing the report. On behalf of Scottish Labour, I welcome the r...

Martin Whitfield Lab

Is it not at those transitional periods—when children from the BSL user community are going into school and nursery for the first time, going to high school ...

Carol Mochan Lab

I thank Martin Whitfield for that intervention. I was going to make that point.

Martin Whitfield Lab

Sorry.

Carol Mochan Lab

No, it was a very welcome intervention. Many families talk about supporting their loved ones, about them becoming settled in their preschool and then needing...

Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP

I speak in today’s debate as a member of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. I thank the clerks for their assistance in the production ...

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) Con

I welcome this debate. For me, it is a debate about post-legislative scrutiny, which we have not seen much of in the Parliament. Therefore, I welcome the fac...

Martin Whitfield Lab

Is it not becoming apparent over this parliamentary session, in particular, that there are real challenges in Scotland for our young people at transitional s...

Miles Briggs Con

I absolutely agree. Some really good frameworks have been developed, especially for care-experienced young people in our colleges and universities. I do not ...

Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP

I thank the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee for its work on the inquiry and the report. Some valuable points have been raised, and I loo...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I am pleased to contribute to this afternoon’s debate. Ten years ago, the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 became an important step towards promoti...

Carol Mochan Lab

Does the member agree that, although that obviously affects individual BSL users, parents and family members also find it stressful that their loved one does...

Alexander Stewart Con

Yes, it has a knock-on effect within the family unit, and it is vitally important that individuals are given the opportunity. If that opportunity does not ex...

Paul McLennan (East Lothian) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to speak in the debate as a member of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, and I thank the committee clerks and other membe...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

We move to the closing speeches. 16:13

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

The opportunity to speak in this debate is special because we have an opportunity to acknowledge genuine progress and the delivery of support to, and recogni...

Karen Adam SNP

Absolutely—it is incumbent on all of us to ensure that inclusion. Martin Whitfield has just mentioned the Parliament, and he spoke earlier about the interpre...

Martin Whitfield Lab

I applaud Karen Adam on that point—or actually her father. People want access to their human rights, and this is their Parliament so they should be able to a...