British Sign Language (BSL) route map: equality impact assessment

How will the proposal promote equality?

Purpose

The BSL route map reflects our commitment to create positive change and to building a more inclusive, equitable society where BSL is recognised, celebrated and embedded across public life.

The BSL route map sets out the initial short-term actions that the Welsh Government will take forward, to be completed within 18 months. These actions represent the first steps toward realising our ambition of creating a Wales that respects, promotes and facilitates BSL; laying the groundwork for future Welsh Government policy, strategies and plans, and to ultimately create lasting change and greater inclusion for deaf BSL signers.

The actions within the BSL route map have been informed by the short-term recommendations produced by the BSL Stakeholder Group. The BSL Stakeholder Group has advised on the priority areas needed to promote BSL, challenge barriers and ensure the language is respected as a vital part of Welsh society.

Outcome and impact

The BSL route map sets out early steps towards our vision for Wales: to build a society that empowers the deaf BSL signing community, and to create a Wales that promotes equitable access and which promotes, facilitates and values BSL as a vital part of Welsh society.

The short-term actions within the route map are intended as a starting point, to underpin the pathway for future policy development across the Welsh Government and to begin the journey to achieving our overall vision.

By firstly focusing on the delivery of short-term priorities, which focus on raising awareness, mapping and scoping, and data collection, we can build the foundation for future progress. These actions will support future Welsh Government policy work.

Our aim is to is to promote and raise awareness of BSL, and to encourage greater understanding, visibility, and inclusion across all areas of Welsh society. By fostering a culture of respect and recognition, we seek to ensure that BSL is embraced as an integral part of Wales’s linguistic and cultural landscape.

Equality and Human Rights

Promoting and facilitating BSL contributes to the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government commitment to ‘Celebrate diversity and move to eliminate inequality in all its forms’.

Equality and Human Rights is embedded within all actions outlined in the BSL route map. All individuals are entitled to fair treatment. This reflects our broader aim of a nation built on dignity, equity and inclusion.

The route map positively contributes towards creating a fairer society, through paying due regard to eliminating unlawful discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity and fostering good relations.

Welsh Ministers have a duty under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 to consider how their policies affect those who have a relevant protected characteristic. The continued work of the BSL Stakeholder Group, and successful implementation of the route map will contribute to Welsh Government to delivering duties laid down in the Equality Act and within the Welsh Government Strategic Equality and Human Rights Plan 2025 to 2029 which contains the National Equality Objectives.

As part of our duties under the Equality Act, the Welsh Government Strategic Equality and Human Rights Plan 2025 to 2029 has set out 7 National Equality Objectives (NEOs).

The BSL route map, will contribute to the delivery of the Welsh Government NEOs as well as our overall ambition of creating an equal Wales with inclusion at the centre of Welsh Government policy.

Ensuring that deaf BSL signers have equal access to information and services is crucial for creating a fairer and more equal Wales. By breaking down language barriers and promoting inclusivity, deaf BSL signers can fully participate in all aspects of society, fostering communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The route map will contribute to our NEOs through the delivery of actions contained within the 4 themes outlined in the route map:

1. BSL data collection and evidence
2. Promotion of BSL as a language
3. Welsh Government BSL provision 
4. Pathways within public services

Stakeholder engagement

The BSL route map has been informed by the lived experience of members of the deaf BSL signing community in Wales, through advice from the BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group. The BSL stakeholder task and finish group was established in January 2025, following the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip’s written statement published in November 2024.

The group was tasked with developing a set of key recommendations to inform the Welsh Government’s production of a BSL policy ‘route map’. The group met monthly between January to July 2025 to explore language barriers and the actions required to ensure equitable access to information and services for deaf BSL signers across a broad range of policy areas.

The group produced recommendations, reflecting the lived experience and expertise of its members. The work of the group in producing a set of recommendations is now complete and these recommendations have been published on the Welsh Government website.

The recommendations produced by the group have been organised into short-term and long-term recommendations. The group also produced recommendations that relate to the Private Member BSL (Wales) Bill which are outlined within the document.

The actions contained within the BSL route map directly respond to the short-term recommendations provided by the BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group. Actions in response to the long-term recommendations produced by the group, will be determined and progressed by future governments, ensuring continuity and sustained progress beyond the initial phase.

The group brought together a diverse and representative mix of stakeholders, including deaf organisations and charities, each contributing valuable expertise and lived experience. The BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group has enabled a model of deaf leadership, where BSL was the primary language of the group. The group was co-chaired by 2 deaf BSL signers. This structure set a precedent for inclusive, language-centred collaboration. 

What are the possible negative impacts on people in protected groups and those living in low-income households and how will you mitigate for these?

The BSL route map sets out the initial actions to promote and facilitate BSL, challenge existing language barriers and improve outcomes for the deaf BSL signing community of Wales. These actions are cross-government and relate to BSL across multiple Welsh Government policy areas including education and health.

The BSL route map will have a positive impact for all deaf BSL signers across Wales. In developing the BSL route map, the intersectional nature of the deaf BSL signing community has been considered and has helped to shape the route map.

We do not anticipate any specific negative impacts on people with protected characteristics resulting from the short-term actions set out in the route map, however throughout the delivery of all actions we will continue to consider impacts. The short-term actions are foundational actions which primarily relate to initial data and evidence collection, and mapping and scoping exercises.

The Welsh Government have set up a new BSL stakeholder group to provide ongoing oversight of the implementation of the route map. Future group meetings will provide updates and review the progress and delivery of actions, actively seeking the views and advice from stakeholders. Where there is potential for negative impacts identified throughout the delivery of the route map and by the group, Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

To mitigate risks further, we have also drawn on equality impact assessments developed by other policy areas, such as the Disabled Peoples Rights Plan.

What if any, barriers do people who share protected characteristics face? Can these barriers be reduced, removed, mitigated?

The BSL route map is an early step towards our aim to address and challenge the existing language barriers to ensure equity for deaf BSL signers. We are seeking to drive long term positive change for deaf BSL signers by strengthening the recognition and provision of BSL across Wales.

In developing the impact assessments for the BSL route map, we have undertaken a rapid evidence review of existing research on inequalities and language barriers faced by deaf BSL signers. Barriers for people with protected characteristics have been considered as part of this rapid review.

Existing UK-wide research highlights the challenges faced by deaf BSL signers across many public services and the need to overcome these to prevent prejudice and exclusion. A summary of key research is provided within this impact assessment.

Engagement with the BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group has been integral to gaining a rich understanding of the language barriers faced by all deaf BSL signers, including people who share protected characteristics. Discussions by the group have considered the intersectionality of deaf BSL signers across Wales.

The group has provided insight and guidance on the initial actions needed to promote and facilitate the use of BSL, remove existing language barriers and ultimately improve outcomes for the deaf BSL community in Wales. The BSL route map is shaped by the lived experiences of deaf BSL signers, helping to develop meaningful and proportionate action.

Summary of evidence identified in relation to people with protected characteristics through a rapid evidence review

Gaps in existing data

Information about deaf BSL signers and BSL, is often not recorded. This means there is no consensus on the total number of deaf BSL signers in the UK which has led to wide variations in the available estimates. 

There is currently no definitive figure on the BSL population within Wales as the data from different sources is not consistent. For example:

1. The 2021 Census Data for England and Wales reports that BSL was the main language of 900 (0.03 percent) usual residents aged three years and over across Wales. This is a small increase from 800 in 2011.
2. According to the British Deaf Association, BSL is the preferred language of over 87,000 Deaf people in the UK. The British Deaf Association (BDA) estimates there are 7,200 individuals in Wales who use BSL (this figure does not include professional BSL users, Interpreters and Translators unless they also use BSL at home). Of these, it is estimated that 4,000 are deaf. These estimates are based on the percentage of ‘BSL signers at home’ from the Scottish Census in 2011. Rather than asking which was the main language spoken at home, the Scottish census 2011 asked about languages spoken at home other than English, and it identified a considerably higher proportion of BSL signers (approximately 0.23 percent of the population compared to 0.03 percent in England and Wales 2021 Census).
3. An ‘Independent Review of BSL Provision for Adults in Wales’, published in 2020, estimates BSL signers in Wales  to be between 5,600 and 7,300, assuming that 0.18 percent to 0.23 percent of the Welsh population are BSL signers. The Welsh Government report estimates are based upon the upon the Scottish Census 2011 as outlined above, and England GP Patient Survey data 2016. 

This report highlights the inconsistency in relation to the data and estimates.

Discussion as part of BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group meetings have further highlighted the lack of rich and representative BSL data. The group agreed that within data collection, there is often no defined category for recording data on BSL. In direct response to this, one of the short-term recommendations produced by the group (recommendation 1) addresses the need for the Welsh Government to explore what barriers exist when collecting and collating BSL data, to inform any future statistics data collection. This recommendation is contained as an action within the BSL route map.

There is also a limited amount of research relating directly to people with protected characteristics and BSL. A summary from our rapid evidence review is provided below. The summary details some of the main inequalities and language barriers faced by the deaf community, with consideration given to the interaction between language barriers and protected characteristics.

Education

Research highlights considerable challenges within education for deaf children and young people (Wilks and O’Neill, 2022).

Gaps in educational attainment for deaf children and young people, resulting from language barriers, has been highlighted within recent reports. Deaf children frequently leave compulsory education with a reading level of an 8 year-old (Rowley, 2023) and are less likely to attain GCSEs in comparison to the national average (Wilks and O’Neill, 2022).

Deaf students generally have a lower educational attainment compared to hearing children. In 2019, deaf students were 10.7% less likely to achieve A* toC grades in the core subjects of English/Welsh language and Maths combined, in comparison to their hearing peers. The attainment gap between deaf children and their hearing peers at Key Stage 2 is approximately 7.%. (National Deaf Children’s Society).

In relation to the education workforce, research has indicated that there is a shortage of professionals working in deaf education, with 16% having no formal BSL qualifications and only 1% with the highest fluency level. (The Consortium of Research in Deaf Education’s Wales 2023).

A review by the Welsh Government of BSL education for adults in 2020 found provision is inconsistent across Wales and is driven by the availability of funding and appropriately qualified tutors, rather than demand.

Education and age

Existing research using an intersectional lens demonstrates how protected characteristics interact to shape provision of BSL and social inclusion (Emery & Iyer, 2022).

Much research emphasises the importance of early language acquisition and early years BSL provision. Research highlights that a lack of early BSL provision in schools contributes to significant attainment gaps (Wilks and O’Neill, 2022). Early sign language acquisition can prevent language deprivation and promote cognitive, linguistic, and social development (Wilks and O’Neil 2025).

The British Deaf Association (BDA) have stated that delayed exposure to BSL often leads to language deprivation, impacting cognitive and emotional development.

Actions: BSL route map

The BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group discussions have built upon themes within existing research, considering the intersectional nature of the deaf BSL signing community. The group have produced a number of recommendations which relate to early years education, language acquisition and BSL provision within education.

The BSL route map aims to strengthen the promotion, facilitation and recognition of BSL and remove language barriers.

The route map contains the following actions relating to education. These actions directly respond to the short-term recommendations produced by the BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group:

• BSL capability within the education workforce: as part of the implementation of the Strategic Education Workforce Plan, the Welsh Government to work with partners to develop an understanding of how many existing school practitioners and local authority advisory teachers can sign BSL, to ensure sufficient provision to develop the BSL ability of practitioners for the future.
• Promoting the role of BSL within the education sector: the Welsh Government will promote BSL as a language within educational settings and raise further awareness of the linguistic and cultural identity of BSL. BSL should be promoted and recognised within educational settings as a language which is separate to communication tools and sign systems. 
• Mapping early years BSL provision: the Welsh Government to work with partners to map and review how deaf children are identified through early years healthcare screening, and to understand the pathway of support that is provided. This work will assess the current provision of BSL available to enable early language acquisition for deaf children and their families from the point of diagnosis, identifying where there are existing barriers and gaps. 

In delivering these actions consideration will be given to the intersectional nature of deaf BSL signers as set out within existing research.

Health

Much research has found that deaf people generally experience poorer health outcomes due to language barriers and limited access to healthcare (Emond et al., 2015). Lack of BSL provision within public healthcare often leads to members of the deaf community finding it difficult to gain medical support. The existing language barriers frequently lead to poor experiences within diagnosis and treatment for the deaf community (Sign Health, 2014).

In 2019 Public Health Wales commissioned research to explore health behaviours and barriers experienced by deaf people in Wales. It reported that access to health services is a major problem and deaf people often avoid contact with health services due to poor past experiences.

Research demonstrates that many deaf people in Wales experience negative health and mental health outcomes(Foltz and Shank, 2020; Terry et al., 2021) compounded by a lack of interpreters in Wales.

A report in 2021 by the All Wales Deaf Mental Health and Wellbeing Group highlights the existing mental health disparities experienced by the deaf community in Wales. The research references that deaf people in Wales are twice as likely to experience mental health problems compared to hearing people (Fellinger et al., 2012).

Studies have found links between BSL and many protected characteristics. For example, research has shown that deaf pregnant women, often face significant language barriers during pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care. Findings have demonstrated that barriers are often caused by a lack of understanding and awareness of BSL and deaf culture within healthcare services and amongst health care professionals (Luton et al 2021).

Research focusing on older people within the deaf community has shown that a lack of BSL provision within care homes and health services often leads to older people within the deaf community experiencing social isolation, which has been identified as a significant risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia (British Deaf Association 2022). 

Actions: BSL route map

The BSL route map contains actions in relation to promotion BSL as a language across Welsh public services, including within health care services. The route map aims to promote, raise awareness, and increase the visibility of BSL across Wales, while improving understanding across Welsh public services that BSL is a full, rich language that is part of a unique cultural heritage.

The route map contains the following actions relating to health and social care. These actions directly respond to the short-term recommendations produced by the BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group:

• All-age mental health services: the Welsh Government will review the current pathway and process for accessing BSL mental health services. This work will explore the availability of linguistically and culturally appropriate mental health support and care and preventive measures, considering how deaf BSL signers can access this. 
• Mapping early years BSL provision: the Welsh Government to work with partners to map and review how deaf children are identified through early years healthcare screening, and to understand the pathway of support that is provided. This work will assess the current provision of BSL available to enable early language acquisition for deaf children and their families from the point of diagnosis, identifying where there are existing barriers and gaps. 
• Population Needs Assessments: the Welsh Government will explore how BSL considerations can be embedded into assessment of need through guidance, to include a specific reference to the health and care needs of BSL signers.
• Scheme to Identify if a person can sign BSL: the Welsh Government will scope the development of a scheme, such as a badge, to visibly identify BSL signers, and people who are learning BSL. This may be worn by professionals and people working within service provision, like the Iaith Gwaith scheme, which is used to show if a person can speak Welsh and if a person is learning Welsh. The scheme may also be used to visibly identify public settings where BSL is welcomed and staff who sign are identifiable. The Welsh Government will consider and build upon historic and existing symbols and schemes relating to the use, visibility and recognition of BSL
• Sharing examples of good practice: what good looks like: the Welsh Government will use evidence to identify and promote examples of good practice across public service settings.

BSL Interpreters and translators: BSL route map

UK evidence demonstrates that there is insufficient capacity of BSL professionals, including BSL translators and interpreters. Research carried out by the Welsh Government in 2023 with a focus on migrant integration found that demand for BSL interpretation often exceeds supply, which leads to increased waiting times. The report also identified that there was a lack of understanding within public services around BSL provision and deaf culture. 

A UK wide census of sign language interpreters found gender imbalance and intersectional gaps in representation amongst the profession. Findings demonstrated that women formed the majority of interpreters and that racial diversity remains low. The report notes how gender intersects with age and race in shaping access to services (Napier et al 2022).

The UK-wide census of sign language translators and interpreters found racial diversity is very limited amongst the profession, and that greater diversity is needed in sign language translation and interpreting. This lack of representation increases the risk of deaf ethnic minority people within Wales experiencing cultural barriers alongside language barriers.

Long-term recommendation

The BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group discussions have built upon themes within existing research and have produced a long-term recommendation in relation to the BSL interpreting and translation workforce. 

This involves 2 aspects:

• Mapping and researching the existing career barriers to becoming and progressing as a BSL interpreter or translator. 
• Working with Careers Wales and other appropriate groups to consider ways in which a career in interpreting or translation could be promoted. 

Actions in response to the long-term recommendations produced by the group, will be determined and progressed by future governments.

How have you/will you use the information you have obtained from research to identify impacts?

The rapid analysis of research has helped provide context and a further understanding of some of the main language barriers experienced by deaf BSL signers, with consideration to how these link to people with protected characteristics. 

The BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group produced a set of priority recommendations to inform the actions within the BSL route map. BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group meetings have considered existing research, and discussions have built upon key themes identified within research as set out above. These discussions brought both lived experience and expertise. It is essential for lived experience to inform Welsh Government policy. The group have discussed where there is need for further research, mapping and data collection; the recommendations produced by the group reflect these discussions. 

How will you know if your piece of work is a success? 

The BSL route map sets out the actions that the Welsh Government will take forward in the short term. Delivery of these actions will commence upon publication, with a target for completion within 18 months from the starting point. By initiating these foundational activities early, we aim ensure that long term goals are actively prepared for.

Setting a period of 18 months for the completion of short-term actions, allows us to set measurable, time-bound actions to deliver meaningful change to deaf BSL signers.

We will seek to strengthening our relationships through ongoing work and engagement, ensuring that deaf leadership and lived experiences of the community continue to inform and influence our work and cross-government policy development.

To ensure continued momentum and accountability, interim meetings with BSL stakeholders will be held throughout the delivery period. Following the completion of the work of the BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group, the group has reconvened under a new Terms of Reference. These meetings will provide opportunities to review progress, share updates, and maintain strong engagement with stakeholders.

The route map will be a living document, to ensure actions can be adjusted to stay relevant and responsive to change.

• Protected characteristic or group
• What are the positive or negative impacts of the proposal?
• Reasons for your decision (including evidence)
• How will you mitigate impacts?

Protected characteristic/group: age

Think about different age groups.

Impacts of the proposal

This is an all-age BSL route map, that recognises the needs of all age groups.

The proposed actions aim to create a positive impact on deaf BSL signers of all ages, ensuring different areas within society are inclusive for all age ranges.

Reasons

Existing research and discussions as part of BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group meetings have highlighted the importance of taking an all-age approach.

Group meetings have considered age groups who may face additional language barriers, including early years. This is reflected in the recommendations produced by the group.

See evidence summary for further information.

Mitigation

The BSL route map takes an all-age approach. This is reflected within the actions. 

Some of the actions within the route map consider particular age groups, for example the route map includes an action in relation to mapping early years BSL provision. 

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Protected characteristic/group: disability

Impacts of the proposal

BSL is recognised throughout the route map as a language in its own right, with its own linguistic identity and rich cultural heritage. The BSL route map will sit alongside and will complement the Disabled People’s Rights Plan, recognising BSL with its own unique cultural, historical and linguistic identity.

Reasons

The BSL route map recognises that many deaf BSL signers do not always consider themselves to be disabled, but a linguistic minority.

Disability has been considered as part of BSL Stakeholder Group meetings and within the BSL Route Map. Deaf culture and deaf identity has been a significant part of discussions.

Mitigation

One of the actions within the BSL route map (review and strengthen safeguarding guidance for the deaf BSL signing community) considers the most vulnerable deaf BSL signers, including disabled people and those with additional language or cognitive needs.

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, the Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Protected characteristic/group: gender reassignment

Impacts of the proposal

The actions which relate to healthcare may have a positive effect on trans deaf BSL signers.

Reasons

Increased BSL awareness, recognition and provision may remove some of the barriers in trans deaf BSL signers accessing information and services in relation to gender identity.

Mitigation

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, the Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Protected characteristic/group: pregnancy and maternity

Impacts of the proposal

The proposals which relate to healthcare may have a positive effect on pregnant women.

Reasons

Increased BSL awareness, recognition and provision may remove some of the barriers in trans deaf BSL signers accessing information and services in relation to pregnancy.

Research has highlighted the links between BSL and pregnancy and maternity. See evidence summary for further information.

Existing research and discussions as part of BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group meetings has considered language barriers and gaps in BSL provision as part of the newborn screening process.

Mitigation

One of the actions within the BSL route map specifically relates to BSL provision in early years, and as part of the newborn screening process.

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, the Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Protected characteristic/group: race

Impacts of the proposal

The BSL route map relates to all deaf BSL signers in Wales regardless of their race or migrant status. 

The route map aims to build a society that empowers the deaf BSL signing community, and to create a Wales that promotes equitable access and which promotes, facilitates and values BSL as a vital part of Welsh society.

Reasons

The links between BSL provisions and recognition, and race and culture has been frequently discussed as part of BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group meeting.

Existing research, though limited, has also demonstrated links. Research notes the risks posed by the lack of racial diversity amongst BSL interpreters and translators.

See evidence summary for further information.

Mitigation

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Protected characteristic/group: religion, belief and non-belief

Impacts of the proposal

The route map aims to build a society that empowers all deaf BSL signers, from all religions and beliefs, and to create a Wales that promotes equitable access and which promotes, facilitates and values BSL as a vital part of Welsh society.

Reasons

The links between BSL provision and recognition, and religion and culture has considered as part of BSL Stakeholder Task and Finish Group meeting.

Though actions within the route map do not specifically address religion, increased BSL awareness, recognition and provision may remove some of the barriers in deaf BSL signers seeking information and services in relation to religion.

Mitigation

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Protected characteristic/group: sex / gender

Impacts of the proposal

The route map aims to build a society that empowers all deaf BSL signers to create a Wales that promotes equitable access and which promotes, facilitates and values BSL as a vital part of Welsh society.

Reasons

The actions are intended to have a positive impact on all sexes / genders.

Mitigation

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, the Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Protected characteristic/group: sexual orientation

Impacts of the proposal

The route map aims to build a society that empowers all deaf BSL signers to create a Wales that promotes equitable access and which promotes, facilitates and values BSL as a vital part of Welsh society.

Reasons

Actions within the BSL Route map do not specifically sexual orientation.

However, increased BSL awareness, recognition and provision may remove some of the barriers in deaf BSL signers seeking information and services in sexual orientation.

Mitigation

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, the Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Protected characteristic/group: marriage and civil partnership

Impacts of the proposal

The route map aims to build a society that empowers all deaf BSL signers to create a Wales that promotes equitable access and which promotes, facilitates and values BSL as a vital part of Welsh society.

Reasons

Actions within the BSL Route map do not specifically address partnership status and marriage.

However, increased BSL awareness, recognition and provision may remove some of the barriers in deaf BSL signers seeking information and services in relation marriage and civil partnership.

Mitigation

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, the Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Protected characteristic/group: children and young people up to the age of 18

Impacts of the proposal

The route map aims to build a society that empowers all deaf BSL signers to create a Wales that promotes equitable access and which promotes, facilitates and values BSL as a vital part of Welsh society.

Reasons

A separate Children’s Rights impact Assessment has been completed.

Mitigation

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, the Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Protected characteristic/group: low-income households

Impacts of the proposal

The route map aims to build a society that empowers all deaf BSL signers to create a Wales that promotes equitable access and which promotes, facilitates and values BSL as a vital part of Welsh society.

Reasons

All the actions in the plan are designed to tackle poverty and improve outcomes for people living in low-income households.

Existing research, has also demonstrated links between BSL provision, including in relation to educational attainment, and living in a low-income household.

See evidence summary for further information.

Mitigation

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Do you think that this policy will impact on people’s human rights?

Impacts of the proposal

Equality and human rights is embedded in the actions within the BSL route map.

The BSL Stakeholder Group and BSL route map, will contribute to our overall ambition of creating an equal Wales with inclusion at the centre of Welsh Government policy.

Reasons

A respect for fundamental human rights as well as equality is built into all Welsh Government work and the BSL Route Map.

See further detail in question 1.

Mitigation

Where there is potential for negative impacts identified in the delivery of the route map, Welsh Government will review and develop actions to mitigate any negative impacts identified, where appropriate and proportionate to do so.

Part 2 of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, along with the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement and Swiss Citizens Rights Agreement (“Citizens Rights Agreements”) give EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who were lawfully resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 certainty that their citizens’ rights will be protected. 

The Citizens Rights Agreements are implemented in domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (EUWAA).

Eligible individuals falling within scope of the Citizens Rights Agreements will have broadly the same continued entitlements to work, study and access public services and benefits, in as far as these entitlements have derived from UK membership of the EU as well as its participation in the EEA Agreement and the EU-Swiss Free Movement of Persons Agreement. 

Subject to certain limited exceptions (such as where an individual has Irish citizenship (including dual British and Irish citizenship) or where they had indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK, individuals will need to have applied for a new residence status (either pre-settled or settled status) through the EU Settlement Scheme. The deadline for making such an application expired on 30 June 2021.

Policy considerations have taken into account:

Residency

The right to reside and other rights related to residence: rights of exit and entry, applications for residency, restrictions of rights of entry and residence.

Mutual recognition of professional qualifications

The continued recognition of professional qualifications obtained by EU/EEA/Swiss citizens in their countries (and already recognised in the UK).

Access to social security systems: these include benefits, access to education, housing and access to healthcare.

Equal treatment

This covers non-discrimination, equal treatment and rights of workers.

Workers rights

Workers and self-employed persons who are covered under the Citizens Rights Agreements are guaranteed broadly the same rights as they enjoyed when the UK was a Member State. They have a right to not be discriminated against due to nationality, and the right to equal treatment with UK nationals.

(Frontier workers (those citizens who reside in one state and regularly work in another) can continue working in the UK if they did so by the 31 December 2020).